Approval and Confirmation of USA edition of De Ordinatione Episcopi, Presbyterorum et Diaconorum

On November 12, 2002, the Latin Church members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a revised edition of the ICEL translation of De Ordinatione Episcopi, Presbyterorum et Diacanorum with 220 Bishops voting in the affirmative and 15 against. Because the USCCB counts among its members 267 Latin Church Bishops, the motion required the consent of 179 members for passage. This action was confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in a Decree dated four weeks later, December 4, 2002 (Prot. N.2234/02/L). The text of the Congregation's decree is provided here for the information of our readers:

CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Prot. N.2234/02/L At the request of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, Bishop of Belleville, President of the Conference of Bishops of the United States of America, in a letter of November 13, 2002, and in virtue of the faculties granted to this Congregation by the Supreme Pontiff JOHN PAUL II, we gladly confirm and approve the English translation of the editio typica altera, as in the attached copy, of that part of the Roman Pontifical entitled De Ordinatione Episcopi, Presbyterorum et Diacanorum. In printed editions mention must be made of the recognitio granted by this Congregation. Moreover, two copies of the printed text should be forwarded to this Congregation. All things to the contrary notwithstanding. From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, December 4, 2002. +Francis Cardinal Arinze Prefect +Franciscus Pius Tamburrino Archbishop-Secretary

On February 5, 2003, Bishop Wilton Gregory, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published the following decree by which this edition of Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons may be used in the liturgy beginning with the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, February 22, 2003. From the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 2003, no other edition of the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America.

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS DECREE OF PUBLICATION In accord with the norms established by decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites in Cum, nostra ætate (January 27, 1966), this edition of the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons, is declared to be the vernacular typical edition of De Ordinatione Episcopi, Presbyterorum et Diaconorum in the dioceses of the United States of America, and is published by authority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons were canonically approved for use by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on November 12, 2002, and were subsequently confirmed by the Apostolic See by decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on February 4, 2002 (Prot. No. 2234/02/L). From the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, February 22, 2003, the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons may be used in the liturgy. From the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 2003, no other edition of the the Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests and of Deacons may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America. Given at the General Secretariat of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. on February 10, 2003, the Feast of Saint Scholastica. Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory Bishop of Belleville President United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Reverend Monsignor William P. Fay General Secretary

Several texts in De Ordinatione and the Institutio Generalis are among those to be retranslated as a part of the Ordo Missae in the very near future. The USCCB, in response to a recommendation from the BCL, decided to retain the translations of these texts currently in possession (that is, as found in the 1970 ICEL translation of the Sacramentary), until such time as a definitive translation of the Missale Romanum has been approved and confirmed.

USCCB Publishing will serve as the sole publisher of this first edition of the Rites of Ordination. Ritual editions of this book should be available by the first week in May, 2003. A revised edition will be published in several years, incorporating changes to Mass texts included in the USA edition of the Missale Romanum.


Plenary Indulgence for Divine Mercy Sunday

In a decree dated August 3, 2002, the Apostolic Penitentiary announced that in order "to ensure that the faithful would observe this day (Divine Mercy Sunday) with intense devotion, the Supreme Pontiff himself established that this Sunday be enriched by a plenary indulgence…so that the faithful might receive in great abundance the gift of the consolation of the Holy Spirit. In this way, they can foster a growing love for God and for their neighbor, and after they have obtained God's pardon, they in turn might be persuaded to show a prompt pardon to their brothers and sisters."

The plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of Supreme Pontiff) to the faithful who, on the Second Sunday of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday, in any church or chapel, in a spirit that is completely detached from the affection for a sin, even a venial sin, take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy, or who, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus (e.g. Merciful Jesus, I trust in you!).

The Gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter narrates the wonderful things Christ the Lord accomplished on the day of the Resurrection during his first public appearance: "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.' When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad to see the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you,' and then he breathed on them, and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained'" (Jn 20,19-23).

• The Secretariat for the Liturgy has received many inquiries since l995 regarding the use of "mustum" as valid matter for the celebration of the Eucharist. As Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger issued a June 19, 1995 letter addressed to the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences regarding low-gluten altar breads and mustum. There, Cardinal Ratzinger stated that "mustum" is "understood as fresh juice from grapes, or juice preserved by suspending its fermentation (by means of freezing or other methods which do not alter its nature)." Some parishes have reported difficulty in locating suppliers of "mustum" in the United States. At present, there are two suppliers of mustum known to the Secretariat for the Liturgy, whose products are valid matter for use at Mass:

The following should be noted with reference to the Liturgical Calendar in light of the Missale Romanum, editio typica tertia:

• St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, virgin and martyr (Edith Stein), celebrated on August 9 is an optional memorial and not an obligatory memorial. This celebration is not listed in the 2003 Liturgical Calendar For the Dioceses of the United States of America, but does appear properly in the 2004 calendar .
  
  
• Saint Pio of Pietreclina, priest (Padre Pio), celebrated on September 23 is an obligatory memorial. This celebration is not listed in either the 2003 or 2004 Liturgical Calendar For the Dioceses of the United States of America.
  
  
• Blessed Juan Diego (Cuatitloatzin), celebrated on December 9 as an optional memorial, and as listed in the 2003 and 2004 Liturgical Calendar For the Dioceses of the United States of America, should now be listed as St. Juan Diego (Cuatitloatzin).

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