Wednesday Liturgy: Substituting the Creed
ROME, DEC. 5, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Q: It is my understanding that it is not allowed to omit the Creed on Sundays (except during the Easter Season when the laity are sprinkled with holy water and renew their baptismal promises). Just last week, a priest did omit the Creed but asked the baptismal questions (no sprinkling). For example, he said, "Do you believe in God the Father almighty ...?" and the congregation replied "Yes" (until we finally caught on and remembered to say, "I do"). Although a seemingly minor difference, I was wondering if the latter was permitted. -- F.M., Carthage, North Carolina
A: According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Nos. 67-68:
"(67) The purpose of the Symbolum or Profession of Faith, or Creed, is that the whole gathered people may respond to the word of God proclaimed in the readings taken from Sacred Scripture and explained in the homily and that they may also call to mind and confess the great mysteries of the faith by reciting the rule of faith in a formula approved for liturgical use, before these mysteries are celebrated in the Eucharist.
"(68) The Creed is to be sung or said by the priest together with the people on Sundays and Solemnities. It may be said also at particular celebrations of a more solemn character. If it is sung, it is begun by the priest or, if this is appropriate, by a cantor or by the choir. It is sung, however, either by all together or by the people alternating with the choir. If not sung, it is to be recited by all together or by two parts of the assembly responding one to the other."
No. 137 indicates the proper posture: "The Creed is sung or recited by the priest together with the people (cf. above, no. 68) with everyone standing. At the words 'et incarnatus est' (by the power of the Holy Spirit … became man) all make a profound bow; but on the Solemnities of the Annunciation and of the Nativity of the Lord, all genuflect."
Thus the Creed may not normally be omitted on any Sunday Mass except as indicated below.
During the Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday (but not on other Sundays of Easter Season), the renewal of baptismal promises and sprinkling with holy water replaces the Creed.
This is to emphasize the traditional connection of Easter Sunday with baptism and because the profession of faith is included in the baptismal promises.
Likewise, whenever baptism or confirmation is celebrated during Mass the profession of faith is omitted because the baptismal promises are either made or renewed during the rite.
The text of the Creed is usually that of the so-called Nicene Creed. According to the new Latin missal the Apostles' Creed may be used during Lent, Easter and at Masses for Children. Some countries have received permission to use the Apostles' Creed every Sunday.
The rite of sprinkling with holy water at Easter should not be confused with the similar rite of blessing and sprinkling of holy water which may replace the penitential rite and the "Lord, have mercy" at the beginning of most Masses with a congregation.
Q: It is my understanding that it is not allowed to omit the Creed on Sundays (except during the Easter Season when the laity are sprinkled with holy water and renew their baptismal promises). Just last week, a priest did omit the Creed but asked the baptismal questions (no sprinkling). For example, he said, "Do you believe in God the Father almighty ...?" and the congregation replied "Yes" (until we finally caught on and remembered to say, "I do"). Although a seemingly minor difference, I was wondering if the latter was permitted. -- F.M., Carthage, North Carolina
A: According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Nos. 67-68:
"(67) The purpose of the Symbolum or Profession of Faith, or Creed, is that the whole gathered people may respond to the word of God proclaimed in the readings taken from Sacred Scripture and explained in the homily and that they may also call to mind and confess the great mysteries of the faith by reciting the rule of faith in a formula approved for liturgical use, before these mysteries are celebrated in the Eucharist.
"(68) The Creed is to be sung or said by the priest together with the people on Sundays and Solemnities. It may be said also at particular celebrations of a more solemn character. If it is sung, it is begun by the priest or, if this is appropriate, by a cantor or by the choir. It is sung, however, either by all together or by the people alternating with the choir. If not sung, it is to be recited by all together or by two parts of the assembly responding one to the other."
No. 137 indicates the proper posture: "The Creed is sung or recited by the priest together with the people (cf. above, no. 68) with everyone standing. At the words 'et incarnatus est' (by the power of the Holy Spirit … became man) all make a profound bow; but on the Solemnities of the Annunciation and of the Nativity of the Lord, all genuflect."
Thus the Creed may not normally be omitted on any Sunday Mass except as indicated below.
During the Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday (but not on other Sundays of Easter Season), the renewal of baptismal promises and sprinkling with holy water replaces the Creed.
This is to emphasize the traditional connection of Easter Sunday with baptism and because the profession of faith is included in the baptismal promises.
Likewise, whenever baptism or confirmation is celebrated during Mass the profession of faith is omitted because the baptismal promises are either made or renewed during the rite.
The text of the Creed is usually that of the so-called Nicene Creed. According to the new Latin missal the Apostles' Creed may be used during Lent, Easter and at Masses for Children. Some countries have received permission to use the Apostles' Creed every Sunday.
The rite of sprinkling with holy water at Easter should not be confused with the similar rite of blessing and sprinkling of holy water which may replace the penitential rite and the "Lord, have mercy" at the beginning of most Masses with a congregation.
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