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Vatican approves U.S. version of instructions for Mass
Jerry Filteau
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WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Vatican has confirmed the U.S. English version of the
General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops, notified the bishops in late March that the Vatican letter of confirmation had been received.
In a decree dated March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, he declared, "Effective immediately,
this translation of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal is the sole translation ... for use in
the dioceses of the United States of America."
The instruction, approved in English translation by the U.S. bishops at their general
meeting last November, presents norms for the celebration of Mass.
It includes detailed instructions for each part of the Mass; for the duties of the
celebrant, other ministers and the people; for differences when there are concelebrants and when a deacon
is present or not; for the arrangement and furnishing of churches; and for the bread and wine and
sacred furnishings, vessels and vestments.
It also has norms for the selection of Mass, the choice of texts for the Mass, the selection
of texts set to music and special rules for Masses for the dead and Masses with prayers for
various circumstances.
USCCB Publishing said it plans to have the instruction published in book form by early
May. In the meantime people who wish to read or reference the document may view it on the Internet
at www.usccb.org. The "Bookstore" link on that site provides information on how to order copies
of the instruction, including discount rates for bulk orders.
When Pope John Paul II approved the new instruction in Latin in 2000, it was the first
revision of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal in 25 years. It was intended to take effect
with the Vatican's third edition of the Roman Missal, which after unforeseen delays was published
in Latin in March 2002.
Msgr. James P. Moroney, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat for Liturgy, said
the norms in the instruction are in effect now because they took effect with the publication of the
new Latin Roman Missal, even though that text has not yet been translated into English.
Included in the U.S. English version of the instruction are adaptations of the norms for
the dioceses of the United States, previously adopted by the U.S. bishops and approved by the Holy
See. Msgr. Moroney said those adaptations, too, are now in effect.
Single copies of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal cost $12.95 plus
$3.50 shipping and handling. Orders may be placed by phone at: 800-235-8722,
or by faxing a printed order form to: 202-722-8709. Order forms and information
on costs for more than one copy are available on the Internet by clicking the
"Bookstore" link at www.usccb.org.
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