Novus Ordo Missae

This article is about the post-Vatican-II changes to the Mass; for an explanation of the current structure of the Mass, see Mass (liturgy).

Other changes

Vernacular language

National conferences of bishops were allowed to authorize the use of vernacular language in place of Latin. Almost immediately all conferences granted this permission; and now nearly all Masses are celebrated in the vernacular.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Communion under both species

The 1970 Roman Missal allowed the faithful to receive the Eucharist under the appearances of both bread and wine. The very few circumstances where this was at first permitted were gradually extended, resulting in it being available at every Mass in some churches. Reception under both species is a practice that had largely fallen into disuse in Western Europe even before the Council of Trent, and the revised Roman Missal therefore insisted that priests should use the occasion to teach the faithful the Catholic doctrine on the form of Communion, as affirmed by the Council of Trent: they were first to be reminded that they receive the whole Christ when they participate in the sacrament even under one kind alone, and thus are not then deprived of any grace necessary for salvation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The priest's orientation

Before the revision, priest and people generally faced in the same direction for the canon of the Mass. Most altars were built against a wall or backed by a reredos and topped with a tabernacle; they were often designed with this orientation in mind. When Mass was celebrated at the main altar, all would face the apse of the church, which was generally to the east. However, this was not universal: at the high altars in the major basilicas in Rome the Popes traditionally celebrated Mass facing the people, and even in several small but ancient churches, such as that of the Four Crowned Saints in Via dei Santi Quattro, the altar was arranged so that the priest necessarily faced the people throughout the Mass, an orientation explicitly envisaged in the pre-Vatican-II Roman Missal (Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae, V, 3).

Related Topics:
Altar - Reredos - Tabernacle - Apse - Basilica - Rome

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Without obliging priests to face the people at Mass, the 1970 Roman Missal called for this orientation to be made possible: "The main altar should be freestanding so that the ministers can easily walk around it and Mass can be celebrated facing the people" (GIRM 1975). The 2002 edition of the GIRM added a phrase declaring a freestanding main altar "desirable wherever possible" (GIRM 299). In practice, the facing-the-people orientation has become almost universal; altars that imposed the back-to-the-people orientation were moved or another, freestanding, altar was placed in front of the old one.

Related Topics:
1970 - 2002

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The 1975 GIRM prescribed that the priest should face the people:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• For the opening greeting;
• For the invitation to pray;
• Before beginning the Eucharistic Prayer (or Canon of the Mass);
• When displaying the consecrated host before receiving and giving communion; and
• When inviting to pray at the postcommunion prayer.
• The 2002 edition adds the point at which the priest gives the greeting of peace.

The pre-Vatican-II Ordo Missae gave the same indications as the 1975 GIRM, except that it ignored the Communion of the people; mention of this was found only in the Missal's Ritus servandus in celebratione Missae, X, 6, with an outline of the rite, not the full text.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The current GIRM directs the priest to face the altar at several points, exactly as in the pre-Vatican-II Ordo Missae. Usually, because of his orientation, this means he also faces the people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Repositioning of the tabernacle

The change in the priest's orientation meant that in general the Tabernacle could not be on the altar at which Mass is celebrated. The 1970 Missal gives the direction: "In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer." (GIRM 314). This is often achieved by constructing a Eucharistic chapel.

Related Topics:
Tabernacle - Chapel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other matters

The part known as the Offertory or Presentation of the Gifts, when bread, wine, and water are brought to the altar, was allowed to be done as a procession. The Kiss of Peace (or Sign of Peace) ritual, previously limited to High Mass, was permitted for every Mass and was extended to the laity. The form it takes varies according to local custom, mostly involving just a handshake.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~