CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT
INSTRUCTION

Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided
regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

Chapter I

THE REGULATION OF THE SACRED LITURGY

[14.] “The regulation of the Sacred Liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, which rests specifically with the Apostolic See and, according to the norms of law, with the Bishop.[34]

[15.] The Roman Pontiff, “the Vicar of Christ and the Pastor of the universal Church on earth, by virtue of his supreme office enjoys full, immediate and universal ordinary power, which he may always freely exercise”[35], also by means of communication with the pastors and with the members of the flock.

[16.] “It pertains to the Apostolic See to regulate the Sacred Liturgy of the universal Church, to publish the liturgical books and to grant the recognitio for their translation into vernacular languages, as well as to ensure that the liturgical regulations, especially those governing the celebration of the most exalted celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass, are everywhere faithfully observed”.[36]

[17.] “The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments attends to those matters that pertain to the Apostolic See as regards the regulation and promotion of the Sacred Liturgy, and especially the Sacraments, with due regard for the competence of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It fosters and enforces sacramental discipline, especially as regards their validity and their licit celebration”. Finally, it “carefully seeks to ensure that the liturgical regulations are observed with precision, and that abuses are prevented or eliminated whenever they are detected”[37]. In this regard, according to the tradition of the universal Church, pre-eminent solicitude is accorded the celebration of Holy Mass, and also to the worship that is given to the Holy Eucharist even outside Mass.

[18.] Christ’s faithful have the right that ecclesiastical authority should fully and efficaciously regulate the Sacred Liturgy lest it should ever seem to be “anyone’s private property, whether of the celebrant or of the community in which the mysteries are celebrated”[38].

1. The Diocesan Bishop, High Priest of his Flock

[19.] The diocesan Bishop, the first steward of the mysteries of God in the particular Church entrusted to him, is the moderator, promoter and guardian of her whole liturgical life.[39] For “the Bishop, endowed with the fullness of the Sacrament of Order, is ‘the steward of the grace of the high Priesthood’,[40] especially in the Eucharist which he either himself offers or causes to be offered,[41] by which the Church continually lives and grows”.[42]

[20.] Indeed, the pre-eminent manifestation of the Church is found whenever the rites of Mass are celebrated, especially in the Cathedral Church, “with the full and active participation of the entire holy People of God, joined in one act of prayer, at one altar at which the Bishop presides”, surrounded by his presbyterate with the Deacons and ministers.[43] Furthermore, “every lawful celebration of the Eucharist is directed by the Bishop, to whom is entrusted the office of presenting the worship of the Christian religion to the Divine Majesty and ordering it according to the precepts of the Lord and the laws of the Church, further specified by his own particular judgment for the Diocese”.[44]

[21.] It pertains to the diocesan Bishop, then, “within the limits of his competence, to set forth liturgical norms in his Diocese, by which all are bound”.[45] Still, the Bishop must take care not to allow the removal of that liberty foreseen by the norms of the liturgical books so that the celebration may be adapted in an intelligent manner to the Church building, or to the group of the faithful who are present, or to particular pastoral circumstances in such a way that the universal sacred rite is truly accommodated to human understanding.[46]

[22.] The Bishop governs the particular Church entrusted to him,[47] and it is his task to regulate, to direct, to encourage, and sometimes also to reprove;[48] this is a sacred task that he has received through episcopal Ordination,[49] which he fulfills in order to build up his flock in truth and holiness.[50] He should elucidate the inherent meaning of the rites and the liturgical texts, and nourish the spirit of the Liturgy in the Priests, Deacons and lay faithful[51] so that they are all led to the active and fruitful celebration of the Eucharist,[52] and in like manner he should take care to ensure that the whole body of the Church is able to grow in the same understanding, in the unity of charity, in the diocese, in the nation and in the world.[53]

[23.] The faithful “should cling to the Bishop as the Church does to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ does to the Father, so that all may be in harmonious unity, and that they may abound to the glory of God”.[54] All, including members of Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life as well as those of all ecclesial associations and movements of any kind, are subject to the authority of the diocesan Bishop in all liturgical matters,[55] apart from rights that have been legitimately conceded. To the diocesan Bishop therefore falls the right and duty of overseeing and attending to Churches and oratories in his territory in regard to liturgical matters, and this is true also of those which are founded by members of the above-mentioned institutes or under their direction, provided that the faithful are accustomed to frequent them.[56]

[24.] It is the right of the Christian people themselves that their diocesan Bishop should take care to prevent the occurrence of abuses in ecclesiastical discipline, especially as regards the ministry of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals, the worship of God and devotion to the Saints.[57]

[25.] Commissions as well as councils or committees established by the Bishop to handle “the promotion of the Liturgy, sacred music and art in his diocese” should act in accordance with the intentions and the norms of the Bishop; they must rely on his authority and his approval so that they may carry out their office in a suitable manner[58] and so that the effective governance of the Bishop in his diocese will be preserved. As regards all these sorts of bodies and other entities and all undertakings in liturgical matters, there has long been the need for the Bishops to consider whether their working has been fruitful thus far,[59] and to consider carefully which changes or improvements should be made in their composition and activity[60]so that they might find new vigor. It should be borne in mind that the experts are to be chosen from among those whose soundness in the Catholic faith and knowledge of theological and cultural matters are evident.

2. The Conference of Bishops

[26.] The same holds for those commissions of this kind which have been established by the Conference of Bishops in accordance with the will of the Council,[61] commissions whose members consist of Bishops who are clearly distinguished from their expert helpers. Where the number of members of a Conference of Bishops is not sufficient for the effective establishment of a liturgical commission from among their own number, then a council or group of experts should be named, always under the presidency of a Bishop, which is to fulfill the same role insofar as possible, albeit without the name of “liturgical commission”.

[27.] As early as the year 1970, the Apostolic See announced the cessation of all experimentation as regards the celebration of Holy Mass[62] and reiterated the same in 1988.[63] Accordingly, individual Bishops and their Conferences do not have the faculty to permit experimentation with liturgical texts or the other matters that are prescribed in the liturgical books. In order to carry out experimentation of this kind in the future, the permission of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is required. It must be in writing, and it is to be requested by the Conference of Bishops. In fact, it will not be granted without serious reason. As regards projects of enculturation in liturgical matters, the particular norms that have been established are strictly and comprehensively to be observed.[64]

[28.] All liturgical norms that a Conference of Bishops will have established for its territory in accordance with the law are to be submitted to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for the recognitio, without which they lack any binding force.[65]

3. Priests

[29.] Priests, as capable, prudent and indispensable co-workers of the order of Bishops,[66] called to the service of the People of God, constitute one presbyterate with their Bishop,[67] though charged with differing offices. “In each local congregation of the faithful, in a certain way, they make present the Bishop with whom they are associated in trust and in generosity of heart; according to their rank, they take upon themselves his duties and his solicitude, and they carry these out in their daily work”. And “because of this participation in the Priesthood and mission, Priests should recognize the Bishop as truly their father and obey him reverently”[68]. Furthermore, “ever intent upon the good of God’s children, they should seek to contribute to the pastoral mission of the whole diocese, and indeed of the whole Church”.[69]

[30.] The office “that belongs to Priests in particular in the celebration of the Eucharist” is a great one, “for it is their responsibility to preside at the Eucharist in persona Christi and to provide a witness to and a service of communion not only for the community directly taking part in the celebration, but also for the universal Church, which is always brought into play within the context of the Eucharist. It must be lamented that, especially in the years following the post-Conciliar liturgical reform, as a result of a misguided sense of creativity and adaptation, there have been a number of abuses which have been a source of suffering for many”.[70]

[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.[71] They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.[72] For as St. Ambrose said, “It is not in herself . . . but in us that the Church is injured. Let us take care so that our own failure may not cause injury to the Church”.[73] Let the Church of God not be injured, then, by Priests who have so solemnly dedicated themselves to the ministry. Indeed, under the Bishop’s authority let them faithfully seek to prevent others as well from committing this type of distortion.

[32.] “Let the Parish Priest strive so that the Most Holy Eucharist will be the center of the parish congregation of the faithful; let him work to ensure that Christ’s faithful are nourished through the devout celebration of the Sacraments, and in particular, that they frequently approach the Most Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance; let him strive, furthermore, to ensure that the faithful are encouraged to offer prayers in their families as well, and to participate consciously and actively in the Sacred Liturgy, which the Parish Priest, under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, is bound to regulate and supervise in his parish lest abuses occur”.[74] Although it is appropriate that he should be assisted in the effective preparation of the liturgical celebrations by various members of Christ’s faithful, he nevertheless must not cede to them in any way those things that are proper to his own office.

[33.] Finally, all “Priests should go to the trouble of properly cultivating their liturgical knowledge and ability, so that through their liturgical ministry, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will be praised in an ever more excellent manner by the Christian communities entrusted to them”.[75] Above all, let them be filled with that wonder and amazement that the Paschal Mystery, in being celebrated, instills in the hearts of the faithful.[76]

4. Deacons

[34.] Deacons “upon whom hands are imposed not for the Priesthood but for the ministry”,[77] as men of good repute,[78] must act in such a way that with the help of God they may be recognized as the true disciples[79] of him “who came not to be served but to serve”[80], and who was among his disciples “as one who serves”.[81] Strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands, they are in service to the People of God, in communion with the Bishop and his presbyterate.[82] They should therefore consider the Bishop as a father, and give assistance to him and to the Priests “in the ministry of the word, of the altar, and of charity”.[83]

[35.] Let them never fail, “as the Apostle says, to hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience,[84] and to proclaim this faith by word and deed according to the Gospel and the tradition of the Church”,[85]in wholehearted, faithful and humble service to the Sacred Liturgy as the source and summit of ecclesial life, “so that all, made children of God through faith and Baptism, may come together as one, praising God in the midst of the Church, to participate in the Sacrifice and to eat the Lord’s Supper”.[86] Let all Deacons, then, do their part so that the Sacred Liturgy will be celebrated according to the norms of the duly approved liturgical books.

Notes

[34] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 22 §1; cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 838 §1.

[35] Code of Canon Law, can. 331; cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 22.

[36] Code of Canon Law, can. 838 §2.

[37] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution, Pastor bonus, 28 June 1988: AAS 80 (1988) pp. 841-924, here artt. 62, 63, and 66, pp. 876-877.

[38] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 52: AAS 95 (2003) p. 468.

[39] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops, Christus Dominus, 28 October 1965, n. 15; cf. also the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 41; Code of Canon Law, can. 387.

[40] Prayer for the Consecration of a Bishop in the Byzantine Rite: Euchologion to mega, Rome, 1873, p. 139.

[41] Cf. St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Smyrn. 8,1: ed. F.X. Funk, I, p. 282.

[42] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 26; cf. S. Congregation of Rites, Instruction, Eucharisticum mysterium, n. 7: AAS 59 (1967) p. 545; cf. also Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores gregis, 16 October 2003, nn. 32-41: L’Osservatore Romano, 17 October 2003, pp. 6-8.

[43] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 41; cf. St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Magn. 7, Ad Philad. 4, Ad Smyrn. 8: ed. F.X. Funk, I, pp. 236, 266, 281; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 22; cf. also Code of Canon Law, can. 389.

[44] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Lumen gentium, n. 26.

[45] Code of Canon Law, can. 838 §4.

[46] Cf. Consilium for Implementing the Constitution on the Liturgy, Dubium: Notitiae 1 (1965) p. 254.

[47] Cf. Acts 20,28; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, nn. 21 and 27; Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church, Christus Dominus, n. 3.

[48] Cf. S. Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction, Liturgicae instaurationes, 5 September 1970: AAS 62 (1970) p. 694.

[49] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 21; Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church, Christus Dominus, n. 3.

[50] Cf. Caeremoniale Episcoporum ex decreto sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum, auctoritate Ioannis Pauli Pp. II promulgatum, editio typica, 14 September 1984, Vatican Polyglot Press, 1985, n. 10

[51] Cf. Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 387.

[52] Cf. ibidem, n. 22.

[53] Cf. S. Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction, Liturgicae instaurationes: AAS 62 (1970) p. 694.

[54] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 27; cf. 2 Cor 4,15.

[55] Cf. Code of Canon Law, canons 397 §1; 678 §1.

[56] Cf. ibidem, canon 683 §1.

[57]Ibidem, canon 392.

[58] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Vicesimus quintus annus, n. 21: AAS 81 (1989) p. 917; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, nn. 45-46; Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Mediator Dei: AAS 39 (1947) p. 562.

[59] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Vicesimus quintus annus, n. 20: AAS 81 (1989) p. 916.

[60] Cf. ibidem.

[61] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 44; Congregation for Bishops, Letter sent to the Presidents of the Conferences of Bishops together with the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, 21 June 1999, n. 9: AAS 91 (1999) p. 999.

[62] Cf. Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction Liturgicae instaurationis, n. 12: AAS 62 (1970) pp. 692-704; cf., here p. 703.

[63] Cf. Congregation For Divine Worship, Declaration on Eucharistic Prayers and liturgical experimentation, 21 March 1988: Notitiae 24 (1988) pp. 234-236.

[64] Cf. Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction Varietates legitimae: AAS 87 (1995) pp. 288-314.

[65] Cf. Code of Canon Law, can. 838 § 3; S. Congregation of Rites, Instruction Inter Oecumenici, 26 September 1964, n. 31: AAS
56 (1964) p. 883; Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Instruction Liturgiam authenticam, nn. 79-80: AAS 93 (2001) pp. 711-713.

[66] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum ordinis, 7 December 1965, n. 7; Pontificale Romanum, ed. 1962: Ordo consecrationis sacerdotalis, in Praefatione; Pontificale Romanum ex decreto sacrosancti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II renovatum, auctoritate Pauli Pp. VI editum, Ioannis Pauli Pp. II cura recognitum: De Ordinatione Episcopi, presbyterorum et diaconorum, editio typica altera, 29 June 1989, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1990, cap. II: De Ordin. presbyterorum, Praenotanda, n. 101.

[67] St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Philad., 4: ed. F.X. Funk, I, p. 266; Pope St. Cornelius I, cited by St. Cyprian, Letter 48,2: ed. G. Hartel, III,2, p. 610.

[68] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 28.

[69] Cf. ibidem.

[70] John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 52; cf. n. 29: AAS 95 (2003) pp. 467-468; 452-435.

[71] Pontificale Romanum, De Ordinatione Episcopi, presbyterorum et diaconorum, editio typica altera: De Ordinatione Presbyterorum, n. 124; cf. Missale Romanum, Feria V in Hebdomada Sancta: Ad Missam chrismatis, Renovatio promissionum sacerdotalium, p. 292.

[72] Cf. Ecumenical Council of Trent, Session VII, 3 March 1547, Decree on the Sacraments, canon 13, DS 1613; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 22; Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Mediator Dei: AAS 39 (1947) pp. 544, 546-547, 562; Codex Iuris Canonici, can 846, § 1; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 24.

[73] St. Ambrose, De Virginitate, n. 48: PL 16, 278.

[74] Code of Canon Law, can. 528 § 2.

[75] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis, n. 5.

[76] Cf. Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 5: AAS 95 (2003) p. 436.

[77] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 29; cf. Constitutiones Ecclesiae Aegypticae, III, 2: ed. F.X. Funk, Didascalia, II, p. 103; Statuta Ecclesiae Ant., 37-41: ed. D. Mansi 3, 954.

[78] Cf. Acts 6,3.

[79] Jn 13,35.

[80] Matt 20,28.

[81] Cf. Luke 22,27.

[82] Cf. Caeremoniale Episcoporum, nn. 9, 23. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, n. 29.

[83] Cf. Pontificale Romanum, De Ordinatione Episcopi, presbyterorum et diaconorum, editio typica altera, cap. III, De Ordin. diaconorum, n. 199.

[84] Cf. 1 Tim 3,9.

[85] Cf. Pontificale Romanum, De Ordinatione Episcopi, presbyterorum et diaconorum, editio typica altera, cap. III, De Ordin. diaconorum, n. 200.

[86] Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 10.

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