“Lord I am not worthy”

Q:  “Lord I am not worthy” seems like another penitential rite. We’ve already done that. At the beginning.

A:  At many times, the prayers of the mass remind us of our place before God. We are God’s beloved children, but God is our God. Certainly a different prayer could be said, but this one, based on the story of the centurion, aims to help us reflect on the seriousness of what we are about to do. There are many references to healing in both the daily and seasonal prayers. There is a close linguistic connection between healing and salvation. The prayers are working from a metaphor to express that this eucharist is preparing us for a better life.

 

Altar cross

Q:  Our priest celebrates mass with a second cross on the altar. I wonder why there is the duplication of crosses. GIRM 122 seems to be clear that a single cross is to be used…which is why the processional cross is put away – not visible to the assembly after the opening procession. 
A:  With regard to the altar cross,  GIRM 117 calls for a cross on or near the altar, and you’re right that GIRM 122 presumes that only one cross remains in the sanctuary for the mass. When incense is used, that cross is to be incensed. Pope Benedict’s very public usage of a second altar cross facing the celebrant inspired many priests and bishops to do the same. I find the practice hard to defend from the GIRM.

How many candles?

Q:  Some people insist that 6 candles should be used on the altar at Sunday Masses because it is a Solemnity as indicated in the GIRM. However, GIRM 117 and CB 128 says 2, 4 or 6 candles MAY be used on or near the altar especially for Sundays and Holy days.  For a Mass celebrated by the Bishop, 7 candles should be used. Are 6 required for Sunday mass?
 

A:  GIRM 117 and CB 128 seem more interested in 2 candles as a minimum. The GIRM permits 4 or 6, and it says “especially” for Sundays and Holy days. But I agree that the word “or” leaves some flexibility.

Ending the collect

Q:  GIRM 54 gives 3 options for the end of the collect. Can you explain how these came about? In Latin, almost all the collects just end with simply ‘Per Dominum’ and not the formulas given in GIRM 54. ‘m interested to know how the different endings came about.

A:  Most of the collects end with the first option, but sometimes the prayer mentions Christ near the end, and sometimes the prayer is addressed to Christ. Both circumstances change the ending.
For example, the collect for December 22 is addressed to God but concludes with the words “his company as their Redeemer.” Because the reference to Christ the Redeemer is so close to the conclusion, the second optional ending from GIRM 54 is used, which does not mention Christ, but simply says, “Who lives and reigns with you.”
The collect for the morning mass on December 24 is addressed to Jesus Christ, which is very rare. So it uses the third option from GIRM 54. The conclusion “Who live and reign” does not mention Christ because the conclusion is addressed to him.The form of the verbs also changes because the other collects mention Christ in the third person (“Who lives and reigns”) but this one uses the second person (“[You]” Who live and reign).

 

Praying for the Pope and Bishops

Q:  I understand why we pray for the pope and the local bishop. But why the separation of the clergy and the rest of the bishops from everyone else? Isn’t this separation left from the days of social class distinction?

A:  Even Vatican II’s Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) noted the distinctions in the hierarchy and the role of the laity, though it did so after it treated “The People of God” as a whole. That said, we probably don’t absolutely have to pray for people in hierarchical order. I’m not sure why they kept it. Maybe it was one way they could get bishops to agree to vote for more eucharistic prayers.

 

Sacrifice and Offering

Q:  The word ‘sacrifice’ in ordinary American English means to ‘give up.’  It is ALWAYS difficult to explain how the Church uses this word.  Am I clear that a synonym for it would be ‘offering?’ If not, please give me a simple synonym for sacrifice.

A:  “Offering” works.  The word “sacrifice” is used quite a bit in contemporary conversation.  Some soldiers pay the “ultimate sacrifice.”  Parents sacrifice for their children.  Even baseball has two types of sacrifice (bunt and fly).

“Able the just”

Q:  The Roman Canon refers to “Abel the just,” which is quoting Jesus in Matthew 23:35. But is Matthew 23:35 ever heard in our readings from the lectionary?

A:  Interesting point. Matthew 23:35 is not anywhere in the lectionary. But the first Eucharistic prayer in quite old, and I do believe that people should be challenged to develop biblical literacy – even beyond the lectionary. 

Blessed are you

Q:  Why does the priest say in a low voice, “Blessed are you…”

A:  These prayers may be said out loud. The original thought was that they’d read in a low voice only if the people were singing, but that recommendation got lost. Private prayers of the priest are preconciliar, but they are not dialogues, so they have been kept quiet.