Manual for proper celebration of the Mass officially presented to the Pope

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Comments: 12

Pope Benedict XVI with Cardinal Canizares

Vatican City, Oct 21, 2009 / 01:38 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Antonio Canizares, Prefect of the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, today officially presented Pope Benedict XVI with the “Compendium eucharisticum,” aimed at helping priests to properly celebrate Mass.

The compendium, which was officially published on October 19, is a collection of study materials, prayers and meditations related to the celebration of the Eucharist. According to Cardinal Canizares, it is “a response to the desire of the Holy Father and the request made by the bishops during the 2005 Synod on the Eucharist.”

According to the daily edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the document “puts together texts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, prayers, theological explanations of the Roman Missal’s Eucharistic prayers and everything that may be useful for the correct understanding, celebration and adoration of the Sacrament on the altar.”

L’Osservatore Romano also explained that the Pope’s desire is that the compendium will help both priests and laity in “believing, celebrating and increasingly living out the Eucharistic Mystery.” The Holy Father also hopes that it will stimulate “every faithful person to make of their own lives a spiritual worship,” the paper added.

The compendium has been published in Italian by the Vatican’s publishing house and will soon be available in other languages, including English.

Comments: 12

Subscriber comments:

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass 10/25/2009 07:07 PM EST

Latin is a dead language so the meaning of the words don't change anymore as it would in a language that is in common usage such as English. I guess that this is the attraction of Latin for the Church. The liturgy is as beautiful in any language but latin is the choice of the Catholic Church and there is "Traditional Beauty"of the liturgy in this language. So be it if it is the will of God and the Church becomes stronger in it's universal message of the peace of Christ. The "Holy Spirit"speaks to all no matter what the language.

Published by: Mike
Moreno Valley, Ca. 10/24/2009 07:48 AM EST

I converted to Catholicism in 1986. I was not raised learning Latin in school or in church. What do I do now? What did the apostles do when they went into foreign lands to preach the gospel? I'm not in a land foreign to me.

Published by: Bob
Anaheim/CA 10/23/2009 01:08 AM EST

For 1500 years, the Mass was said in Latin. Latin is also the official language of the Church. It isn't a problem following the Mass in Latin on the left and English on the right-handed pages, either. The old Mass didn't have the liturgical dance, nor drums, either - it was not Protestant by design or intent.

Published by: Elizabeth
Seattle, WA 10/22/2009 05:11 PM EST

I grow up in the Philippines in the 60's & as far as I can remember we celebrated Latin Mass in my Catholic HS yrs. Very beautiful.The Redemptorists priest in our Sacred Heart Church celebrates English very reverantly,but I would love to hear more parts of the Mass in Latin like the Our Father, Sanctus Sanctus, and other parts of the Mass. Or maybe have the Traditional Latin Mass celebrated on 1 Sunday Mass.

Published by: Cindy
Bedford, NH USA 10/22/2009 03:50 PM EST

I didn't realize that the "Mass of the ages" meant Latin... I thought Jesus spoke Aramaic...!!! So how can any other Language be an authentic representation of the Mass?? *doesn't that sound ridiculous??? Obviously Mass is said in the language of those present so that they can more deeply understand/engage in the Mass...One language is not superior to another. And it's ok to "adapt" the Mass to the culture that the sacrifice is being made in.

Published by: Roberto Alvarez-Perez
USA 10/22/2009 12:05 PM EST

Here we go again, trying to re-invent the wheel! The proper way to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was determined many centuries ago. It worked well and led to a multitude of saints. Then political correctness, protestant and freemason influence got in the way. By the way, for those who still question the importance of the Latin language, at least it kept the unity of worship and avoided improvisation. It amazes me that those who oppose the Latin language have no objection to the "speaking in tongues under the influence of the spirit" in the charismatic worship.

Published by: Carolyn
Seattle, WA 10/22/2009 11:57 AM EST

Mass at my parish is very reverent and beautiful. It's what drew me to the Catholic Church and back to God. I grew up in a protestant church and this is sooo much better even if you dispise it as Novus Ordo. We have a good music program. We sing a lot of Latin including chant. We have been teaching the congregation to sing chant, too. I am in the choir and we are preparing a Latin requiem mass for All Souls Day evening Mass. I would like to see a Latin Mass, but it's still a foreign language to me like the first Mass I ever attended was in French. I could tell part was in Latin, but that was about it.

Published by: amh
texas 10/22/2009 09:54 AM EST

There is a need for BALANCE: above all that Christ instituted the Eucharist, the roots of our Liturgy in the Jewish gathering rites, the human contributions (i.e. chant, latin) that heve enriched the celebration of Holy Mass, AND the need for everyday people in all places and at all times to be able to participate and understand the "source and summit" of our Catholic faith! Balance, led by our Holy Father!

Published by: DMR
Dayton, OH 10/22/2009 08:59 AM EST

This publication would probably help most priests celebrate mass more reverantly, but unfortunately it will probably be ignored just like previous documents, such as the Vatican II document 'Sacrosanctum Concilium'. Sacrosanctum Concilium called for, amongst other things, gregorian chant to have "pride of place" in the celebration of the mass. How often does gregorian chant get pride of place at your local Novus Ordo mass? But no worries, the "spirit of Vatican II" crowd doesn't bother to read the documents of Vatican II, they just make it up as they go, or borrow ideas from the Protestants and Freemasons.

Published by: zereeo
Tampa, FL 10/21/2009 06:19 PM EST

Rate: Good

Proper worship is in language your heart speaks to God, not Latin. There is nothing divine about Latin language.

Published by: Melanie
New York 10/21/2009 05:49 PM EST

Novus Ordo is still open to all kinds of novelties and Protestant-like worship. I am deeply disappointed in Pope Benedict's refusal to restore the true Mass, or implement the reverence so needed! Forty years to late..

Published by: Francis
Wareham MA 10/21/2009 01:48 PM EST

Rate: Good

The proper way of celebrating the Mass is to dump this Protestant inspired Novus Ordo and return to the Mass of the ages! Which of course is the Traditional Latin Mass!

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