Q: Dear Father Paul,Sincere thanks for all that you do!Although we are past the Scrutinies for this year, I would like to get my head straight about this. It has been a topic of discussion just about every year, and I know I am not the only one that struggles with this; nor the only OCIA Director who hears the words “Pastoral Discretion”.
Are the “Prayers of the Faithful/Universal Prayer” of the Mass supposed to be included in the “Intercessions” done for the Elect during the Scrutiny Rite,
OR are they done as usual after the Creed?
I had hoped that the new text would resolve this, but it doesn’t look like it has.There have been some good arguments made:1. The Intercessions for the Elect and the Prayers of the Faithful/Universal Prayer are two different things and both should be done. It’s praying for the Elect when they are present, and then, after they are dismissed, exercising our baptismal priesthood in the Universal Prayer, which the Elect are not yet in a position to do. And “Prayer of the Faithful” would not yet apply to them. 2. The Mass is divided into Liturgy of the Word, which anyone can be a part of, and Liturgy of the Eucharist, which traditionally only those initiated and neophytes could attend. The unbaptized traditionally could not attend the Liturgy of the Eucharist. (The parts of the Mass used to be called Mass of the Catechumens and Mass of the Faithful.) The Elect are dismissed prior to the Creed and the Prayers of the Faithful, maintaining the normal order of the Mass.3. The Scrutiny includes Intercessions and Exorcism Prayer for the Elect at the end of the Liturgy of the Word. Dismissal Follows, and then the Creed, Prayers of the Faithful, etc.
But then, there is this in Paragraph #153 for the FIrst Scrutiny: Moreover, the usual intentions for the Church and the whole world should be added if the elect are to be dismissed after the Intercessions and the Univeral Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful) is omitted during Mass (cf.no.156). Now go to #156–and #167 for the Second Scrutiny and #177 for the Third Scrutiny–where we appear to have double speak.
After the dismissal, the Eucharist is celebrated. The Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful) for the needs of the Church and the whole world begins immediately. Then, if required, the Creed is said, and he Preparation of the Gifts follows. But for pastoral reasons the Universal Prayer (Prayer of the Faithful) and the Creed may be omitted. In the Eucharistic Prayer there is to be a remembrance of the elect and their godparents (cf. Ritual Masses: For the Celebration of the Scrutinies).
So which is it?–included in the “Intercessions” done for the Elect during the Scrutiny Rite, OR done as usual after the Creed, OR the typical “pastoral discretion” and we live with whatever happens?Thank you for your insight and direction. Easter Blessings!
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A: There is indeed a discrepancy there, and that should have been caught before the revised translation was approved.
What you see at OCIA 156, 167 and 177 are good translations of the Latin typical edition. The corresponding numbers are in the margins.
Turn back to 153, 167, and 174, and you’ll see in the margins that those paragraphs combine 163 from the typical addition with material added to the OCIA for use in the USA.
So, how much of those 3 paragraphs comes from the Latin original in 163? Only the second sentence of each, which instructs the godparents to place their right hand on the shoulder of the elect for the intercessions. The US came up with the idea that the intentions for the Church and the whole world should be added to the intentions for the elect if omitted later. I see that Australia, England and Wales, and Canada all adopted the same discrepancy in their RCIA, which is still in force.
It looks to me as though the typical edition never envisioned you would include elements of the prayer of the faithful into the intentions for the elect. If you decided to omit the prayer of the faithful, you just omitted it, and left the intentions for the elect alone. As you point out, as unbaptized members of the community, they are not yet in a position to exercise baptismal priesthood with those prayers.
The discrepancy has been approved, so you may follow either set of instructions.
Perhaps the episcopal conferences of other English-speaking countries can review this before they submit their revised translations.