Newspaper Page Text
Southern Cross—Savannah. Oa.—Oct. 29, 1964
VI. Competent Authority in Liturgical
Matters (Const., Art. 22)
20. Regulation of the sacred liturgy pertains to
the authority of the Church: therefore, no other
person shall proceed in this matter on his own au
thority to the detriment, as may often happen, of
the liturgy itself and of its restoration by the compe
tent authority.
21. It pertains to the Apostolic See to reform
and to approve the general liturgical books; tc
order the sacred liturgy in those matters which
affect the Universal Church; to approve, that is,
confirm the acts and deliberations of the territorial
authority; and to receive the proposals and petitions
of the same territorial authority.
22. It pertains to the Bishop to regulate the
liturgy within the limits of his diocese, in accord
ance with the norms and spirit of the Constitution
on the Sacred Liturgy as well as the decrees of the
Apostolic See and of the competent territorial au
thority.
23. The various kinds of territorial bodies of
Bishops, to which the regulation of the liturgy per
tains in virtue of Art. 22,2, of the constitution, must
be understood to be, for the interim:
(a) Either the body of all the Bishops of a na
tion, in accordance with the norm of the apostolic
letter Sacram Liturgiam, n. X;
(b) Or a body already lawfully constituted
which consists of the Bishops, or of the Bishops and
other local Ordinaries, of several nations;
(c) Or a bod v to be established, with the per-
<N mission of the Apostolic See, consisting of the Bish
op ops or of the Bishops and the local Ordinaries of
^5 several nations, especially if in the individual na-
tions the Bishops are so few that they may convene
Cu more profitably from various nations of the same
language or of the same culture.
If the particular local conditions suggest another
solution, the matter should be proposed to the
Apostolic See.
24. The following must be invited to the above-
mentioned bodies:
(a) residential Bishops; (b) Abbots and pre
lates nullius; (c) vicars and prefects apostolic; (d)
apostolic administrators of dioceses who have been
appointed permanently; (3) all other local Ordin
aries except vicars general.
Coadjutor and Auxiliary Bishops may be invited
by the president, with the consent of the majority
of those who take part in the body with deliber
ative vote.
25. Unless the law provides otherwise for certain
places in view of particular cirumstances, the con
vocation of the body must be made:
(a) by the respective president, in the case of
bodies already lawfully established;
(b) in other cases, by the Archbishop or Bishop
who has the right of precedence in accordance
with the norm of law.
26. The president, with the consent of the Fath
ers, determines the order to be followed in the ex
amination of questions, and opens, transfers, pro
rogues, and closes the conference.
27. A deliberative vote belongs to all who are
named in n. 24, including Coadjutor and Auxiliary
Bishops, unless a different provision is expressly
made in the document of convocation.
28. For the lawful enactment of decrees, two-
thirds of the votes, taken by secret ballot, are re
quired.
29. The acts of the competent territorial au
thority which are to be transmitted to the Apostolic
See for approval, that is, confirmation, should con
tain the following:
(a) the names of those who took part in the
session;
(b) a report of matters taken up;
(c) the result of voting for the individual de
crees.
Two copies of these acts, signed by the presi
dent and the secretary of the body, and with the
proper seal, shall be sent to the Commission for
the Implementation of the Constituion of the Sacred
Liturgy.
30. When, however, it is a question of acts in
which there are decrees concerning the use and
extent of the vernacular language to be admitted
in the liturgy, besides what is enumerated in n.29,
in accordance with Art. 36, 3, of the constitution
and the apostolic letter Sacram Liturgiam, n.IX,
the acts should also contain:
(a) an indication of the individual parts of the
liturgy which are to be said in the vernacular;
(b) two copies of the liturgical texts prepared
in the vernacular, one copy of which will be re
turned to the body of Bishops;
(c) a brief report concerning the criteria upon
which the work of translation was based.
31. The decrees of the territorial authority which
need the approval, that is, the confirmation of the
Apostolic See, shall be promulgated and put into
practice only when they have been approved, that
is, confirmed by the Apostolic See.
VII. The Office of Individuals in the Liturgy
(Const., Art. 28)
32. The parts which pertain to the schola or
to the people, if they are sung or recited by them.,
are not said privately by the celebrant.
33. Likewise the celebrant does not say priv
ately the lessons which are recited or chanted by
a competent minister or by a server.
VIII. Avoiding Distinctions of Person
(Const., Art. 32) h / - V .
34. The individual Bishops or, if it seems op
portune, the regional or national conference of Bis
hops shall see to it that the prescription of the
holy council which forbids any favor to private
persons or any favor on the basis of social distinc
tions, either in ceremonies or in external pomp,
shall be put into effect in their territories.
35. In addition, pastors of souls shall work with
prudence and charity so that, in the liturgical serv
ices and, more especially, in the celebration of
Mass and the administration of sacraments and sac
ra mentals, the equality of the faithful shall be evi
dent even outwardly and that, further, all appear
ance of money-seeking be avoided.
IX. Simplification of Certain Rites
(Const., Art. 34)
36. In order that the liturgical service may
exhibit a noble simplicity in harmony with the
mentality of our times:
(a) The salutations to the choir on the part of
the celebrant and the ministers shall be made only
at the beginning and at the end of the sacred rites;
(b) The incensation of the clergy, apart from
those who are Bishops, shall be done once for each
part of the choir, with three swings of the thurible;
(c) The incensation of the altar shall be done
only at that altar where the liturgical service is
being celebrated;
(d) The kisses of the hand and of objects which
are being presented or received shall be omitted.
X. Sacred Celebrations of the Word of God
(Const., Art. 35, 4)
37. In places which lack a priest, if no priest is
available for the celebration of Mass on Sundays
and feast days of precept, the sacred celebration
of the word of God shall be fostered, according to
the judgement of the local Ordinary, with a deacon
or even a layman, authorized for this purpose, pre
siding over the service.
The pattern of this celebration shall be almost
the same as the liturgy of the word in Mass; ordin
arily the Epistle and Gospel of the Mass of the
day shall be read in the vernacular, with chants,
especially from the psalms, before the lessons and
between them; the one who presides shall give a
homily, if he is a deacon; if not a deacon, he shall
read a homily indicated by the Bishop or the pas
tor; and the whole celebration shall be closed with
the “common prayer” or “prayer of the faithful”
and with the Lord’s Prayer.
38. It is also fitting that sacred celebrations of
the word of Gpd, which are to be encouraged on
the vigils of (he more solemn feasts, on some
weekdays in Advent and Lent, and on Sundays
and feast days, should take into account the pattern
of the liturgy qf the word in Mass, although there
may be only a ; single reading.
In the arrangement of several readings, how
ever, in order that the history of salvation may be
clearly discerned, the reading from the Old Testa
ment shall generally precede the reading from the
New Testament, and the reading of the Holy Gospel
shall appear as the climax.
39. In order that these celebrations may be
held with dignity and piety, it shall be the task of
the liturgical commissions in the individual dioceses
to indicate and provide appropriate aids.
XI. Vernacular Translations of Liturgical
Texts (Const., Art. 36, 3)
40. In vernacular translations of liturgical texts
prepared in accordance with the norm of Art. 36, 3,
it is fitting that the following be observed:
(a) The vernacular translation of liturgical texts
shall be made from the Latin liturgical text. The
version of the biblical pericopes, however, should
conform to the Latin liturgical text, but with the
possibility of revising this translation, if deemed
advisable in accordance with the original text or
some other clearer tanslation.
(b) The preparation of the translation of liturg
ical texts should be entrusted, as a special con
cern, to the liturgical commission mentioned in
Art. 44 of the constitution and in n.44 of this in
struction. So far as possible the institute of pas
toral liturgy should assist the commission. But if
there is no such commission, the supervision of the
translation should be entrusted to two or three
Bishops, who will choose persons, including lay
persons, expert in Scripture, liturgy, biblical lang
uages, Latin, the vernacular language, and music.
For the perfect translation of the liturgical text into
the language of the people must necessarily and
properly fulfill many conditions at the same time.
(c) Whenever it is called for, there should be
consultation concerning translations with the Bishops
of neighboring regions which have the same lang
uage.
(d) In nations which have several languages,
different vernacular translations should be prepared
for these languages and submitted to the special
examination of' the Bishops concerned.
(e) Consideration should be given to the dignity
of the books from which the liturgical text is read
to the people in the vernacular language, so that
the dignity of the book itself may move the faithful
to a greater reverence for the word of God and for
sacred things.
41. In liturgical services which are celebrated
in some places with people of another language, it
is lawful with the consent of the local Ordinary to
use the vernacular language known to these faithful,
especially in the case of groups of immigrants, or
of members of a personal parish, or similar in
stances. This shall be done in accordance with the
extent of the use of the vernacular and its trans
lation as legitimately approved by a competent ter
ritorial ecclesiastical authority of the respective
language.
42. New melodies for parts to be sung in the
vernacular language by the celebrant and the min
isters must be approved by the competent territorial
ecclesiastical authority.
43. Particular liturgical books which were law
fully approved before the promulgation of the Con
stitution on the Sacred Liturgy and indults conceded
up to that day retain their force, unless they are
apposed to the constitution, until other provision is
made in the liturgical restoration, as it will be com
pleted in whole or in part, t
XII. The Liturgical Commission of the Body
of Bishops (Const., Art. 44)
44. The liturgical commission, which it is de
sirable that the territorial authority establish, shall
be chosen from among the Bishops themselves, as
far as possible. At least it shall consist of one or
other Bishop, with the addition of some priests
expert in liturgical and pastoral matters, who are
designated by name for this office.
It is desirable that the members of this com
mission be convened several times a year with the
consultor of the commission that they may deal
with questions together.
45. The territorial authority may, as circum
stances suggest, entrust the following to this com
mission:
(a) studies and experiments to be promoted in
accordance with the norm of Art. 40, 1 and 2 of
the constitution;
(b) practical initiatives to be undertaken for
the entire territory, by which the liturgy and the
application of the Constitution on the Liturgy may
be encouraged;
(c) studies and the preparation of aids which
become necessary in virtue of the decrees of the
plenary body of Bishops;
(d) the office of regulating the pastoral-liturgi
cal action in the entire nation, supervising the ap
plication of the decrees of the plenary body, and
reporting concerning all these matters to the body;
(e) consultations to be undertaken frequently
and common initiatives to be promoted with as
sociations in the same region which are concerned
with Scripture, catechetics, pastoral care, music,
and sacred art, and with every kind of religious as
sociation of the laity.
46. The members of the institute of pastoral
liturgy as well as individual experts who are called
to assist the liturgical commission shall also freely
offer their assistance to individual Bishops for the
more effective promotion of pastoral-liturgical ac
tion in their territory.
XIII. The Diocesan Liturgical Commission
(Const., Art. 45)
47. The following duties pertain to the diocesan
liturgical commission, under the direction of the
Bishop:
(a) to be informed about the state of pastoral-
liturgical action in the diocese;
(b) to implement carefully what is proposed in
liturgical matters by the competent authority, and
to obtain information concerning studies and pro
grams which are taking place elsewhere in this
field;
(c) to suggest and promote practical undertak
ings of every kind which may help to promote the
liturgy, especially those which will assist priests
already working in the Lord’s vineyard;
(d) in individual cases, or also for the entire
diocese, to suggest opportune and progressive steps
in the work of pastoral iturgy; to indicate and also
to call upon suitable persons who on occasion may
help priests in this matter; and to propose suitable
materials and aids;
(e) to see to it that programs in the diocese to
promote the liturgy progress with a harmonious
spirit and with the assistance of other associations,
in a way similar to that indicated for the commis
sion established within the body of Bishops (n. 45e).
CHAPTER II
The Most Holy Mystery of the Eucharist
I. The Rite of the Mass (Const., Art. 50)
48. Until the entire rite of the Mass is restored,
the following shall be observed.
(a) The parts of the Proper which are sung
or recited by the schola or by the people are not
said privately by the celebrant.
(b) The celebrant may sing or recite the
parts of the Ordinary together with the people oi
the schola.
(c) In the prayers to be said at the foot ot
the altar at the beginning of Mass, psalm 42 is
omitted. All the prayers at the foot of the altar
are omitted whenever another liturgical service
immediately precedes the Mass.
(d) In solemn Masses the paten is not held
by the subdeacon, but is left upon the altar.
(e) The secret prayer or prayer over the
offerings shall be chanted in sung Masses, and
recited in a loud voice in other Masses.