Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume II › Book III. On the Aids of the Christian Life, or on the Sacraments › Treatise IV. On the Most Holy Eucharist › Dissertation III. On the Most Holy Eucharist as Sacrifice › Part II. On the Oblation of the Sacrifice of the Mass › Section II. On the Obligation of Offering › Chapter IV. On the Rite of Offering

Article — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Article IV. On Rubrics to Be Observed

¶1.

Canon 818 states: "Any contrary custom being reprobated, the celebrating priest shall accurately and devoutly observe the rubrics of his ritual books, and shall take care not to add other ceremonies or prayers at his own discretion." And canon 819: "The sacrifice of the Mass is to be celebrated in the liturgical language of each one's rite approved by the Church." Therefore Mass in general is to be celebrated according to the rite or rubrics assigned by the Church in the Roman Missal. But authors disagree somewhat about the solution of the question, which rite or which rubrics are in fact prescribed. Hence the matter must be explained more fully:

I. The object of the precept; concerning which the following points seem to be established.

Rubrics to Be Observed

270.

  1. The rubrics to be observed within Mass are preceptive. This assertion, which more recent authors commonly admit, is clear from the Council of Trent;1 likewise from the Bull Quo primum tempore of St. Pius V,2 placed at the beginning of the Roman Missal: "commanding and strictly enjoining upon all... in virtue of holy obedience, that they sing and read Mass according to the rite, manner, and norm which are now handed down by Us through this Missal, and that in the celebration of Mass they not presume to add or recite other ceremonies or prayers than those which are contained in this Missal." Canon 818 is added to this. The opinion which excepts certain lesser things is scarcely reconcilable with the words cited (St. Alphonsus, VI, 399).

  2. It is disputed whether the rubrics to be observed outside Mass, that is, before or after Mass, are preceptive or merely directive. Moreover, with St. Alphonsus (VI, 399) and most more recent authors, it seems that one must say that they are generally merely directive, unless they present those things which are obligatory from the nature of the matter. The reason is that the Bull cited speaks only of rubrics to be observed in the celebration of Mass, and canon 818 speaks only of the celebrating priest.

  3. In particular it is disputed - even among those who admit the assertions under 1 and 2 - whether the following are truly prescribed or not:3

a) The prayers assigned before Mass in the Roman Missal. Rather commonly, and rightly, it is denied that they are truly prescribed, because they are said to be "to be said according to the opportunity of the priest" (St. Alphonsus, VI, 410, doubt 2). The same must be said of the prayers assigned after Mass.

b) The washing of hands before Mass. This seems truly to be prescribed, namely by reason of reverence toward the sacrifice, and in view both of its spiritual signification (namely, of spiritual cleanness) and of the precept given in the Old Law. It obliges under venial sin; but from the nature of the matter under grave sin, if the hands are very unclean. After Mass, however, it can be omitted, since it is not prescribed (St. Alphonsus, VI, 409).

c) The prayers to be recited while the vestments are being put on. More commonly they teach that these are truly prescribed, because they seem morally to pertain to Mass (St. Alphonsus, VI, 410, doubt 2).

d) The canticle Benedicite. Some affirm that it is imposed, because in the Order of Mass it is said: "The priest says"; but rather probably it is not truly prescribed, because by the rubric of the Roman Missal4 it is equated with the other prayers assigned after Mass (cf. St. Alphonsus, VI, 410, doubt 2).

  1. The Ceremonial of Bishops obliges just as the Roman Missal does. This is clear both from the three Bulls prefixed to it and from the declaration of the Sacred Congregation of Rites5 (St. Alphonsus, Examen ordinandorum, n. 112).

  2. Responses of the Sacred Congregation of Rites present obligation if they regard rubrics to be observed within Mass; otherwise they are merely directive, unless the contrary is to be drawn from the tenor.

  3. As regards custom against the rubrics, note:

a) Any custom contrary to the rubrics is reprobated (canon 818), and therefore is not reasonable (canon 27, § 2); nevertheless, when circumstances have changed, more probably it can become reasonable (vol. I, n. 194).

b) Custom cannot derogate from rubrics contained in liturgical books by way of prescription; but it can by way of connivance, or by force of the legislator's personal consent (vol. I, n. 193). Besides this, a usage contrary to the rubrics can be tolerated until it can conveniently be removed by the bishop (vol. I, n. 193). If a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites contrary to the custom is added, the custom is of itself abrogated;6 if it cannot conveniently be removed, the Ordinary should propose the matter to the Sacred Congregation and await the response.

1 Session 6, canon 13; session 22, decree on what is to be observed and avoided.

2 12 July 1570.

3 On the recitation of Matins with Lauds before Mass, see the treatise on the duties of clerics, n. 2.

4 Rite to be observed, title XII, n. 6.

5 Sacred Congregation of Rites, 8 January 1904 (Acta Sanctae Sedis XXXVI, p. 428).

6 Sacred Congregation of Rites, 17 August 1894, n. 3839.

Rubrics to Be Observed