Wednesday Liturgy: Follow-up: Deacons and the Chrism Mass
ROME, APRIL 7, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university.
Several readers commented on our March 17 piece concerning the possibility of mentioning deacons in the Chrism Mass.
One reader referred to a 1997 Vatican document, the "Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest." Article 8 of this document states:
"To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:
"-- association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion."
While this document sheds some light on the topic, it nevertheless refers to the relationship between laypeople and priest whereas deacons are ordained clergy. We might add that the proposal was not so much the association of deacons with the renewal of priestly promises but with finding a way to recognize their presence in a celebration that gathers together the entire community.
Other readers approved of the idea of bishop and deacons coming together on certain days such as the feast of St. Lawrence or close to the bishop's anniversary of consecration.
Still other readers suggested that these occasions are eminently suitable for a diaconal retreat in which the renewal of the ordination promises can be carried out as a devotional exercise in a manner similar to that in which those concluding spiritual exercises often renew their baptismal promises. In this case, such a renewal would not require any special permission from the Holy See or the development of new liturgical rites.
Several readers commented on our March 17 piece concerning the possibility of mentioning deacons in the Chrism Mass.
One reader referred to a 1997 Vatican document, the "Instruction on Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest." Article 8 of this document states:
"To avoid creating confusion, certain practices are to be avoided and eliminated where such have emerged in particular Churches:
"-- association with the renewal of promises made by priests at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, as well as other categories of faithful who renew religious vows or receive a mandate as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion."
While this document sheds some light on the topic, it nevertheless refers to the relationship between laypeople and priest whereas deacons are ordained clergy. We might add that the proposal was not so much the association of deacons with the renewal of priestly promises but with finding a way to recognize their presence in a celebration that gathers together the entire community.
Other readers approved of the idea of bishop and deacons coming together on certain days such as the feast of St. Lawrence or close to the bishop's anniversary of consecration.
Still other readers suggested that these occasions are eminently suitable for a diaconal retreat in which the renewal of the ordination promises can be carried out as a devotional exercise in a manner similar to that in which those concluding spiritual exercises often renew their baptismal promises. In this case, such a renewal would not require any special permission from the Holy See or the development of new liturgical rites.
posted by Chipi Buenafe at
8:18 AM
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