The GIRM: Not Just for Priests!

Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani; a mouthful of Latin, known in English generally as the "General Instruction of the Roman Missal."  In a nutshell, it's that beginning section of the Roman Missal that outlines how Mass is supposed to be said, not just on Sundays, but all days of the week.  In a generalization I can only back up with personal experience, it's the document that quite a few parishes seem to either neglect altogether, or may not even be aware exists.  Here, you'll find the rules that govern the choice of music in the Mass, who reads what and when, the choice of Eucharistic Prayer (yes, there are rules for that), and even what form Mass takes when the deacon is present.  Keep in mind that this discussion is restricted to the Mass of Pope Paul VI, the Novus Ordo, the Ordinary Form, or whatever you'd like to call it.

Why even bring up the GIRM now?  It's an easy read, and to tell you the truth, it's quite possibly one of those documents that we need to take a second look at now more than ever.  This Advent, 2011, those of us in the English-speaking world will be required to learn a new Mass translation.  This is GOOD NEWS!!!  It means that anyone with a slight knowledge of Latin, Italian, Spanish, or any Romance Language won't have to strain themselves trying to figure out how we arrived at the English translations we have now (for example, where did the other two mea culpa's go?).  What I suggest is simple: learn the GIRM also.  I hope to make two points for doing so...NOW.

1.  The Mass is universal.  The Mass of the Roman Rite, no matter what form, is a universal expression of    the Latin Church.  It's a unifying agent.  It's like the Force or something!  The Mass is where we offer to the Father the Body and Blood of the Son for our salvation and the salvation of all people living and dead.  And the same goes for all forms of the Eucharistic Liturgy, Byzantine, Ambrosian, Mozarabic, Alexandrian, Antiochene, etc.  In fact, this argument goes with anyone practicing these rites too.  If we want to show our unity as Christians, it is important to show a uniformity in our worship, meaning that it is not up to individual parishes to alter the Liturgy according to their individual whims.  Plus, made-up on the spot rituals are often times long and dull.

2.  The Mass is of the people.  The Mass has 2000+ years of history behind it.  It unites us across time and space.  The Mass is something that has taken shape due to popular devotions.  The word Mass itself was given to the Roman Liturgy by the people, from the dismissal formula: Ite, Missa est.  The names of Masses (yes Masses have names) were also given by the people: Laetare and Gaudete for example.  It is not something that one group, out of unity with the rest of mankind can simply change at will.

So, how do these two points apply?  Well, by studying and learning the GIRM, I am suggesting that we can understand what the legitimate choices are at the Mass, what the appropriate forms of the various parts of the Mass are, and avoid banality and idiocy.  I'll be beating this dead horse many more times to come.  For now, I think I'll leave things here for the night.