Q: The 2001 Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy has in n. 74 regarding the liturgy and pious exercises: “avoiding any mixture or admixture of these two forms of piety.” This in turn ensures that no hybrid, or confused forms emerge from mixing Liturgy and pious exercises”.
But a booklet for Mass at St Peter’s in Rome for 28 September 2005 (at https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2025/20250928-libretto-giubileo-catechisti.pdf ) has the Prayer after Communion followed the Angelus with three Hail Mary’s. This is followed by the blessing and the deacon singing “Ite, missa est” – meaning “Go forth, the Mass is ended.”
Is this a mixing of Liturgy and a pious exercise that the Directory is concerned about?
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A: Absent any explanation from the Vatican, I imagine they included the Angelus as it is customary for the Holy Father to lead it on Sundays. Perhaps the timing on that particular day may have made it difficult to arrange otherwise. Normally, this is not a good admixture, and, normally, it is not done this way at St. Peter’s.