Knowing the Missal Respecting the Text

The pastoral effectiveness of a celebration will be truly heightened if the texts of the readings, the prayers, and the liturgical songs correspond as closely as possible to the needs, spiritual preparation, and capacity of participants. In order that a celebration may correspond more fully to the prescriptions and spirit of the sacred Liturgy, and also in order to increase its pastoral effectiveness, certain accommodations and adaptations are specified in this General Instruction and in the Order of Mass. These adaptations consist for the most part in the choice of certain rites or texts, that is, of the chants, readings, prayers, explanations, and gestures which may respond better to the needs, preparation, and culture of the participants and which are entrusted to the priest celebrant, the priest must remember that he is the servant of the sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass. GIRM 352, 23–24 Practical Points Through the use of brief comments connections can be made between elements in the liturgy: music and scripture, for example — encouraging people to find their own connections. With days of special prayer rather than place the emphasis on Sunday Mass explore how the intentions might be explored through the Cycle of Prayer. As part of a parish liturgy review use a video camera to identify any idiosyncrasies, ideas that once worked but have become stale. Look at the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions in the Missal as a source of prayer that can put in the parish bulleti