Wednesday, June 10, 2020 –
Today is going to be very short and blessedly not confusing. However, this section also has some choices. Thankfully they are not confusing.
This is the final part of the Novus Ordo. For whatever reason, this part has been given its own section in the USCCB outline. I can only guess that somewhere there is some Bishop who seriously loves his end-of-Mass announcements. Ehh…who am I to judge?
The Concluding Rites
Optional announcements – this really does mean announcements, and it really is listed in both the USCCB outline as well as in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, number 90a to be exact. We are talking about stuff like: “parish bake sale after Mass.” Or, “youth group meets this Wednesday.” By comparison, “announcements” are not “officially” listed anywhere in the Traditional Latin Mass. Typically in a TLM, if there are any announcements they will be said during the homily. The Priest will usually re-read the Epistle and Gospel in the vernacular (your language), make any announcements, then roll right into his homily. I **guess** the committee that arranged the Novus Ordo wanted a clearer place designated for announcements? Who knows!? Anyhow, announcements are “officially” made here!
Greeting and Blessing – the Priest gives us a blessing before we depart. He blessed us in the TLM, but in the NO ordo we do not kneel to receive it.
- Greeting: the “greeting” is the same for all the options. The Priest says, “The Lord be with you.” We respond, “And with your spirit.”
- Final Blessing: there are three basic formulae for the blessing:
- Option A – the simple blessing where the Priest says, “May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.” We respond, “Amen.”
- Option B – a solemn blessing where the Priest or Deacon says, “Bow down for the blessing.” One or more invocations (petition, prayer) may be spoken. The people usually respond “Amen” to each one. The following conclusion is always used by the Priest, “And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever.” We respond, “Amen.”
- Option C – a prayer over the people where the Priest or Deacons says, “Bow down for the blessing.” The Priest may choose from several options, depending on the occasion or the special intention (need). The following conclusion is always used by the Priest, “And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever.” We respond, “Amen.”
- Option Pontifical: There is also a different greeting and blessing for a Pontifical Mass. If you ever find yourself in this situation, here it is:
- Celebrant: “The Lord be with you.”
- All reply: “And with your spirit.”
- Celebrant: “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
- All reply: “Now and for ever.”
- Celebrant: “Our help is in the name of the Lord.”
- All reply: “Who made heaven and earth.”
- Then the Celebrant receives the pastoral staff, if he uses it, and while making the Sign of the Cross over the people three times says: “May almighty God bless you, + the Father, + and the Son, and + the Holy Spirit.”
- All reply: “Amen.”
Dismissal – the faithful (us) are being sent out into the world to spread the Gospel. If a deacon is present, he will give the dismissal. Or, a Priest will dismiss us if no deacon is present. By comparison to the TLM, this is the “Ite Missa est.” However, here too there are options for the dismissal. There are four basic formulae for this, and we respond the same for each, “Thanks be to God!”:
- “Go forth, the Mass is ended.”
- “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.”
- “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.”
- “Go in peace.”
The very last thing that is not listed in the USCCB outline is that the Priest and Deacon kiss the altar, make a profound bow, and recess out (AKA leave).
Whew! That ends our slow roll through the Novus Ordo. I hope to finish up some last questions about Mass and then move into breakdowns of the Sacraments or maybe a primer on the shiny stuff used at Mass. How about parts of a Church? Hmm…so much I can wax poetic about! The possibilities of listening to me ramble on and on are endless.
Saint Matthias, pray for us!
