Here you will find liturgical guidelines for both Sacraments and liturgical seasons provided by the Office of Liturgy. This includes documents for downloading and useful links.
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Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities - USCCB (New 2017 revision) |
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Celebration of the Eucharist when the Bishop Presides (new Sept. 2022) Liturgy Planning Sheet for Parish Mass where Bp. Wack Presides
Concerning Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
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Celiac Disease, Alcohol Intolerance, And The Church's Pastoral Response |
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Liturgy Planning Sheet for Confirmation Liturgy Planning Sheet for Confirmation Confirmation Checklist Order of Confirmation within Mass (2016 Revision)
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Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we are beginning, invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us, signs of the attention he has for each one of us.
Benedict XVI, Homily at First Vespers of Advent,
November 28, 2009
Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's First Coming to us is remembered; and as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart to await Christ's Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation (Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 39).
The use of the organ and other musical instruments and the decorating of the altar with flowers should be done in a moderate manner, as is consanant with the character of the season, without anticipating the full joy of Christmas (Ceremonial of Bishops, 236).
When a marriage is celebrated during Advent or Lent or other days of penance, the minister of the sacrament should advise the couple to take into consideration the special nature of these liturgical seasons (Rite of Celebrating Marriage, 11).
A communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation according to Rite II of the Rite of Penance is one way of assisting the people of God in preparing for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord. Such a liturgy might be celebrated during the latter part of Advent, and on a weekday other than Sunday.
If the Advent Wreath is used in church, it should be of sufficient size to be visible to the congregation. It may be suspended from the ceiling or placed on a stand. If it is placed in the sanctuary, it should not interfere with the celebration of the liturgy, not should it obscure the altar, ambo, or presider's chair (Book of Blessings, 1512).
In its present form the custom of displaying figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ owes its origin to St. Francis of Assisi who made the Christmas creche or manger for Christmas eve of 1223. The blessing of the Christmas manger or nativity scene, according to pastoral circumstances, may take place at the Vigil of Christmas or at another more suitable time.
If the manger is set up in the church, it must not be placed in the sanctuary. A place should be chosen that is suitable for prayer and devotion and is readily accessible by the faithful (Book of Blessings p. 583).
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Christmas is a privileged opportunity to meditate on the meaning and value of our existence. The approach of this Solemnity helps us on the one hand to reflect on the drama of history in which people, injured by sin, are perennially in search of happiness and of a fulfilling sense of life and death; and on the other, it urges us to meditate on the merciful kindness of God who came to man to communicate to him directly the Truth that saves, and to enable him to partake in his friendship and his life. Therefore let us prepare ourselves for Christmas with humility and simplicity, making ourselves ready to receive as a gift the light, joy and peace that shine from this mystery.
Benedict XVI, General Audience,
December 17, 2008
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Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 to 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal.
The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
More information on Fast and Abstinence may be found here.
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The Vigil, by its very nature, must take place at night. It is not begun before nightfall and should end before daybreak on Easter Sunday.
Pastoral planners should contact local weather stations for the time sunset will occur. Another 45 minutes or 1 hour should be added to that time to determine the approximate time for nightfall. (USCCB - The Roman Missal and The Easter Vigil)
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Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy - Holy Week and the Triduum |