By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News
Posture during celebration of the Eucharist, use of bells at the consecration, and mandating of extraordinary ministers of communion were among the matters addressed in a recent letter to the faithful from Bishop Mark Hagemoen.
The Saskatoon bishop’s July 8, 2020 letter on celebration of the Sacred Liturgy begins by noting that one of the goals of the diocesan Pastoral Plan to Proclaim Christ and the Kingdom of God Today is to promote excellent liturgy, with “full and active participation.”
“This goal cites Sacrosanctum Concilium, which is the foundational document from the Second Vatican Council that has guided the Church’s liturgical teaching over the last 50 years,” noted Bishop Hagemoen.
“In order to better celebrate the Sacred Liturgy in our diocese, I have consulted the six deaneries of our diocese, and have deliberated with our Liturgy Commission over the last year. As a result of the consultation and reflection, and guided by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM, Canada 2011) I am updating the following liturgical directives for our diocese, effective August 2, 2020,” he said.
Concerning postures during the liturgy of the Eucharist, the faithful are now asked to kneel immediately following the Sanctus (Holy, Holy) until the Mysterium Fidei (“Mystery of Faith” memorial acclamation.)
The faithful can receive on the tongue or in the hand. “For the sake of appropriate efficiency and order, it is recommended that communion be received standing, although one may choose to receive while kneeling. Holy Communion should be always received with reverence and respect, and without the faithful feeling hurried.”
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal does not explicitly mention posture after one receives Holy Communion, the bishop noted. “Given this fact, and also that there is a great variety of practice on this point throughout the diocese – which represents the legitimate diversity of devotional attitudes upon receiving Holy Communion – there will be no directive given regarding posture following receiving Holy Communion. Time for a short period of ‘sacred silence’ after all of the faithful have received should be observed.”
Bells may be used at the elevation of the host and chalice during the Eucharistic ccellebration. “A single ring may also be used at the invocation of the Holy Spirit when the priest’s hands are placed with palms down over the Eucharistic bread and wine.”
The bishop’s letter also addressed tabernacle security, the mandating of extraordinary ministers of communion, the decommissioning of churches and the storage of liturgical furnishings and vestments when a church closes.
Regarding use of technology at Masses, the bishop refers leaders to the guidelines released by the Liturgy Commission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, saying “While such technologies may seem to enhance participation, they can – if not properly employed or if overly used – detract from the sacredness of the church and the liturgy itself.”
The bishop also clarified that two forms of the one Roman Rite of the Mass are celebrated within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: the Ordinary Form, the Novus Ordo of the 1970 Missal; and the Extraordinary Form, the 1962 Missal (the traditional Latin Mass last revised under Pope John XXIII).
“On this point, I highlight Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who stated in his introduction of the moto proprio, “Summorum Pontificum: On The Use Of The Roman Liturgy Prior To The Reform Of 1970” – which permitted formally the use of the Mass according to the 1962 Missal –that we should think of the two forms as forms of a single Roman rite – and not as two separate rites or two separate Masses,” said Bishop Hagemoen.
“Let us recall Benedict XVI’s call to unity as we celebrate throughout our diocese in our common single liturgical worship the one, Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Mass. This will be one of two forms – but is always the single rite – in which we have the privilege of celebrating Jesus Christ who becomes present to us – in Word and Sacrament – as the source and summit of the Christian life.”
The bishop concluded: “Let us hold firm to the hope in the life, mission, and ministry of Jesus Christ through the celebration of all of the Sacraments of Christ and His Church, and especially through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, which draws the faithful together from across our diocese and beyond on a daily and weekly basis.
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