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| Some General Rules for All Forms of Mass | |||||||
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| I. | Mass Without a Congregation | ||||||
| A. | A priest may celebrate Mass with only one server or to do Mass alone for only a legitimate and reasonable cause. | ||||||
| II. | Veneration of the Altar and the Book of Gospels | ||||||
| A. | According to traditional liturgical practice, the altar and the Book of Gospels are kissed as a sign of veneration. But if this sign of reverence is not in harmony with the traditions or the culture of the region, the conference of bishops may substitute some other sign, after informing the Apostolic See. | ||||||
| III. | Genuflections and Bows | ||||||
| A. |
Three genuflections are made during Mass: after the showing of the eucharistic bread, after the showing of the chalice, and before communion. |
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| B. | If there is a tabernacle with the blessed sacrament in the sanctuary, a genuflection is made before and after Mass and whenever anyone passes in front of the blessed sacrament. | ||||||
| C. | There are two kinds of bow, a bow of the head and a bow of the body. | ||||||
| 1. | A bow of the head is made when the three divine persons are named together and at the name of Jesus, Mary and the saint in whose honor Mass is celebrated. | ||||||
| 2. | A bow of the body, or profound bow, is made toward the altar if there is no tabernacle with the blessed sacrament; during prayers, Almighty God, cleanse...and Lord God, we ask you to receive...; within the profession of faith at the words, by the power of the Holy Spirit: in Eucharistic Prayer I (Roman Canon) at the words, Almighty God, we pray... The same kind of bow is made by the deacon when he asks the blessing before the Gospel. In addition, the priest bends over slightly as he says the words of the Lord at the consecration. | ||||||
| IV. | Incensation | ||||||
| A. | The use of incense is optional in any form of Mass: | ||||||
| 1. | During the entrance procession. | ||||||
| 2. | At the beginning of Mass, to incense the altar. | ||||||
| 3. | At the procession and proclamation of the gospel. | ||||||
| 4. | At the preparation of the gifts, to incense them, as well as the altar, priest, and people by which the people respond by the sign of the cross. | ||||||
| 5. | At the showing of the eucharistic bread and chalice after the consecration. | ||||||
| 6. | The priest puts the incense in the censer and blesses with the sign of the cross, saying "may our prayers rise like incense before you O Lord." | ||||||
| 7. |
This is the way to incense the altar: |
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| a. | If the altar is freestanding, the priest incenses it as he walks around it. | ||||||
| b. | If the altar is not freestanding, the priest incenses while walking first to the right side, then to the left. | ||||||
| c. | If there is a cross on or beside the altar, he incenses it before he incenses the altar. If the cross is behind the altar, the priest incense it when he passes in front of it. | ||||||
| V. |
Purifications |
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| A. | Whenever a particle of the eucharistic bread adheres to his fingers, especially after the breaking of the bread or the communion of the people, the priest cleanses his fingers over the paten or, if necessary washes them. He also gathers any particles that may fall outside the paten. | ||||||
| B. | The vessels are purified by the priest or else by the deacon or acolyte after the communion or after Mass, if possible at a side table. Wine and water or water alone are used for the purification of the chalice, then drunk by the one who purifies it. The paten is usually wiped with the purificator. | ||||||
| C. | If the eucharistic bread or any particle of it should fall, it is to be picked up reverently. If any of the precious blood spills, the area should be washed and the water poured into the sacrarium. | ||||||
| VI. | Communion under Both Kinds | ||||||
| A. | Holy communion has a more complete form as a sign when it is received under both kinds. For in this manner of reception a fuller light shines on the sign of the eucharistic banquet. Moreover there is a clearer expression of that will by which the new and everlasting covenant is ratified in the blood of the Lord and of the relationship of the eucharistic banquet to the eschatological banquet in the Father*s kingdom. | ||||||
| B. | For the faithful who take part in the rite or are present at it, pastors should take care to call to mind as clearly as possible Catholic teaching according to the Council of Trent on the manner of communion. Above all they should instruct the people that according to Catholic faith Christ, whole and entire, as well as the true sacrament are received even under one kind only that therefore, as far as the effects are concern, those who receive in this manner are not deprive of any grace necessary for salvation. | ||||||
| C. | Pastors are also to teach that the Church has power in its stewardship of the sacraments, provided their substance remain intact. The Church may make those rules and changes, that, in view of the different conditions, times, and places, it decides to be in the interest of reverence for the sacraments or the well being of the recipients. At the same time the faithful should he guided toward a desire to take part more intensely in a sacred rite which the sign of the eucharistic meal stands out more explicitly. | ||||||
| D. | Preparations for giving communion under both kinds: | ||||||
| 1. | If communion is received from the chalice with a tube, sliver tubes are needed for the celebrant and each communicant. There should also be a container of water for purifying the tubes and a paten on which to put them afterward. | ||||||
| 2. | If communion is given with a spoon, only one spoon is necessary. | ||||||
| 3. |
If communion is given by intinction, care is to be taken that he eucharistic bread is not too thin or too small, but a little thicker than usual so that after being partly dipped in the precious blood it can still easily be given to the communicant. |
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| VII. | Rite of Communion under Both Kinds Directly from the Chalice | ||||||
| A. | If there is a deacon or another assisting priest or an acolyte: | ||||||
| 1. | The celebrant receives the Lord*s body and blood as usual, making sure enough remains in the chalice for the other communicants. He wipes the outside of the chalice with a purificator. | ||||||
| 2. | The priest gives the chalice with purificator to the minister and himself takes the paten or ciborium with the hosts; then both station themselves conveniently for the communion of the people. | ||||||
| 3. | The communicants approach, make the proper reverence, and stand in front of the priest/eucharistic minister. Showing the host he says: The Body Christ. The communicant answers: Amen, receives the body of Christ from the priest/eucharistic minister. | ||||||
| 4. | The communicant then moves to the minister of the chalice and stands before him/her. The minister says: The Blood of Christ, the communicant answers: Amen, and the minister holds out the chalice with purificator. For the sake of convenience, communicants may raise the chalice to their mouth themselves. Holding the purificator under the mouth with one hand, they drink a little from the chalice, taking care not to spill it, and then return to their place. The minister wipes the outside of the chalice with the purificator. | ||||||
| 5. | The minister places the chalice on the altar after all who are receiving under both kinds have drunk from it. If there are others who are not receiving communion under both kinds, the priest gives these communion, then returns to the altar. The priest or minister drinks whatever remains in the chalice and carries out the usual Purifications. This is done at daily mass, but not usually at Sunday masses because of time limitations. Purification is done after mass and all sacred vessels are returned to the credence table and hosts to be reserved are returned to the tabernacle. All should remain standing until the tabernacle is closed. | ||||||
| VIII. | Rite of Communion under Both Kinds by lntinction--(not done in the United States in the Latin Rite.) | ||||||
| IX. | Rite of Communion under Both Kinds Using a Tube--(not done in the United States in the Latin Rite.) | ||||||
| X. | Rite of Communion under Both Kinds Using a Spoon--(not done in the United States in the Latin Rite.) | ||||||
