| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
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| By whose authority | Charles | Wednesday, September 15, 2004 |
Question: The priest in my parish changes the wording of the readings and the Eucharistic prayers every Mass to use inclusive language. He even changes "from East to West" to "from everywhere" so as not to offend any of the directions, I guess. By whose authority is he able to do this? I need specifics to write to him and our Bishop about this liturgical abuse. |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Charles, It is by NO ONE's authority that he is able to make these changes. From Vatican II: Sacrosanctum Concilium n.22 (3) Therefore no other person whatsoever, not even a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on their own authority. This includes the text for the prayers. Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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