Table of Contents

Foreword to This Edition ix

THE GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL

Introduction 1

Testimony of an Unaltered Faith 1

Uninterrupted Tradition 4

Accommodation to New Conditions 6

CHAPTER I

The Importance and Dignity of the Celebration

of the Eucharist 10

CHAPTER II

The Structure of the Mass, Its Elements, and Its Parts 14

I. The General Structure of the Mass 14

II. The Different Elements of the Mass 15

Reading and Explaining the Word of God 15

The Prayers and Other Parts Pertaining to the Priest 15

Other Formulas Occurring during the Celebration 17

The Manner of Pronouncing the Different Texts 18

The Importance of Singing 18

Gestures and Bodily Posture 19

Silence 21

III. The Individual Parts of the Mass 21

A. The Introductory Rites 21

The Entrance 22

Reverence to the Altar and Greeting of the

Assembled People 22

The Penitential Act 23

The Kyrie, Eleison 23

The Gloria in Excelsis 23

The Collect 24

B. The Liturgy of the Word 25

Silence 25

The Biblical Readings 26

The Responsorial Psalm 27

The Acclamation before the Gospel 27

The Homily 28

The Profession of Faith 29

The Universal Prayer 30

C. The Liturgy of the Eucharist 31

The Preparation of the Gifts 31

The Prayer over the Offerings 33

The Eucharistic Prayer 33

The Communion Rite 35

The Lord’s Prayer 35

The Rite of Peace 35

The Fraction of the Bread 36

Communion 36

D. The Concluding Rites 38

CHAPTER III

Duties and Ministries in the Mass 39

I. The Duties of Those in Holy Orders 39

II. The Functions of the People of God 41

III. Particular Ministries 42

The Ministry of the Instituted Acolyte and Lector 42

Other Functions 42

IV. The Distribution of Functions and the

Preparation of the Celebration 44

CHAPTER IV

The Different Forms of Celebrating Mass 46

I. Mass with the People 47

Things to Be Prepared 48

A. Mass without a Deacon 49

The Introductory Rites. 49

The Liturgy of the Word 50

The Liturgy of the Eucharist 52

The Concluding Rites 59

B. Mass with a Deacon 60

The Introductory Rites 60

The Liturgy of the Word 61

The Liturgy of the Eucharist 62

The Concluding Rites 63

C. The Functions of the Acolyte 63

The Introductory Rites 64

The Liturgy of the Eucharist 64

D. The Functions of the Reader 65

The Introductory Rites 65

The Liturgy of the Word 65

II. Concelebrated Mass 66

The Introductory Rites 68

The Liturgy of the Word 69

The Liturgy of the Eucharist 69

The Manner of Pronouncing the Eucharistic Prayer 70

Eucharistic Prayer I, or the Roman Canon 70

Eucharistic Prayer II 71

Eucharistic Prayer III 72

Eucharistic Prayer IV 73

The Communion Rite 74 The Concluding Rites 77

III. Mass at Which Only One Minister Participates 77

The Introductory Rites 78

The Liturgy of the Word 78

The Liturgy of the Eucharist 79

The Concluding Rites 80

IV. Some General Norms for All Forms of Mass 80

Veneration of the Altar and the Book of the Gospels 80

Genuflections and Bows 81

Incensation 82

The Purification 83

Communion under Both Kinds. . . . . 83

CHAPTER V

The Arrangement and Ornamentation of Churches for the

Celebration of the Eucharist 87

I. General Principles 87

II. Arrangement of the Sanctuary for the Sacred Synaxis 90

The Altar and Its Ornamentation 90

The Ambo 93

The Chair for the Priest Celebrant and Other Seats 93

III. The Arrangement of the Church 94

The Places for the Faithful 94

The Place for the Schola Cantorum and the

Musical Instruments 95

The Place for the Reservation of the

Most Holy Eucharist 95

Sacred Images 97

CHAPTER VI

The Requisites for the Celebration of Mass 98

I. The Bread and Wine for Celebrating the Eucharist 98

II. Sacred Furnishings in General 99

III. Sacred Vessels 100

IV. Sacred Vestments 101

V. Other Things Intended for Church Use 104

CHAPTER VII

The Choice of the Mass and Its Parts 105

I. The Choice of Mass 105

II. The Choice of Texts for the Mass 107

The Readings 107

The Orations 109

The Eucharistic Prayer 110

The Chants 111

CHAPTER VIII

Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions and

Masses for the Dead 112

I. Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions 112

II. Masses for the Dead 115

CHAPTER IX

Adaptations within the Competence of Bishops and

Bishops’ Conferences 117