20. The Care to Be Taken by Ministers in Celebrating the Liturgy
To encourage the active participation of the people and to ensure that the celebrations are carried out as they should be, it is not sufficient for the ministers to content themselves with the exact fulfillment of their role according to the liturgical laws. It is also necessary that they should so celebrate the liturgy that by this very fact they convey an awareness of the meaning of the sacred actions.
The people have the right to be nourished by the proclamation of the Word of God and by the minister's explanation of it. Priests, then, will not only give a homily whenever it is prescribed or seems suitable but will ensure that whatever they or the ministers say or sing will be so clear that the faithful will be able to hear it easily and grasp its meaning; and they will in fact be spontaneously drawn to respond and participate. 71 The ministers should undergo a careful preparation for this, above all in seminaries and religious houses.
21. The Canon of the Mass
a) In Masses celebrated with the people, even when not concelebrated, it is permissible for the celebrant, if it seems opportune, to say the Canon aloud. In sung Masses (<Missae in cantu>) it is permissible for him to sing those parts of the Canon which are at present allowed to be sung in a concelebrated Mass (<Ritus servandus in concelebratione Missae,> nos. 39, 42) in accordance with the Instruction <Tres abhinc annos> of May 4, 1967, n. 10.
b) In printing the words of consecration the custom of printing them in a way different from the rest of the text should be maintained, in order that they may stand out more clearly.
22. The Mass on Radio and Television
When according to the intention of art. 20 of the Constitution on the Liturgy, the Mass is televised or broadcast, local Ordinaries must see to it that the prayer and participation of the faithful do not suffer. It should be celebrated with such dignity and discretion as to be a model of the celebration of the sacred mystery in accordance with the laws of the liturgical renewal.72
23. Photographs During the Celebration of the Eucharist
Great care should be taken to ensure that liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass, are not disturbed or interrupted by the taking of photographs. Where there is a good reason for taking them, the greatest discretion should be used, and the norms laid down by the local Ordinary should be observed.
24. The Importance of the Arrangement of Churches for Well-Ordered Celebrations
"The house of prayer where the most holy Eucharist is celebrated and preserved should be kept clean and in good order, suitable for prayer and sacred celebrations. It is there too that the faithful gather and find help and comfort in venerating the presence of the Son of God, our Saviour, offered for us on the altar of sacrifice."73
Pastors must realize then that the way the church is arranged greatly contributes to a worthy celebration and to the active participation of the people.
For this reason the directives and criteria given in the Instruction <Inter Oecumenici> should be followed regarding: the building of churches and adapting them to the renewed liturgy, the setting up and adorning of altars, the suitable arrangement of the seating for the celebrant and ministers, the correct place from which to give the readings, and the arrangement of the places for the faithful and the choir.
Above all, the main altar should be so placed and constructed that it is always seen to be the sign of Christ Himself, the place at which the saving mysteries are carried out, and the center of the assembly, to which the greatest reverence is due.
In adapting churches care will be taken not to destroy treasures of sacred art. If in the interests of liturgical renewal a local Ordinary decides, having obtained the advice of experts and—if necessary—the consent of those whom it concerns, to remove some of these works of art from their present position, it should be done with prudence and in such a way that even in their new surroundings they are well located.
Pastors will recall that the material and appearance of vestments greatly contributes to the dignity of liturgical celebrations. "They should strive after noble beauty rather than sumptuous display."74
To encourage the active participation of the people and to ensure that the celebrations are carried out as they should be, it is not sufficient for the ministers to content themselves with the exact fulfillment of their role according to the liturgical laws. It is also necessary that they should so celebrate the liturgy that by this very fact they convey an awareness of the meaning of the sacred actions.
21. The Canon of the Mass
a) In Masses celebrated with the people, even when not concelebrated, it is permissible for the celebrant, if it seems opportune, to say the Canon aloud. In sung Masses (<Missae in cantu>) it is permissible for him to sing those parts of the Canon which are at present allowed to be sung in a concelebrated Mass (<Ritus servandus in concelebratione Missae,> nos. 39, 42) in accordance with the Instruction <Tres abhinc annos> of May 4, 1967, n. 10.
b) In printing the words of consecration the custom of printing them in a way different from the rest of the text should be maintained, in order that they may stand out more clearly.
22. The Mass on Radio and Television
When according to the intention of art. 20 of the Constitution on the Liturgy, the Mass is televised or broadcast, local Ordinaries must see to it that the prayer and participation of the faithful do not suffer. It should be celebrated with such dignity and discretion as to be a model of the celebration of the sacred mystery in accordance with the laws of the liturgical renewal.72
23. Photographs During the Celebration of the Eucharist
Great care should be taken to ensure that liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass, are not disturbed or interrupted by the taking of photographs. Where there is a good reason for taking them, the greatest discretion should be used, and the norms laid down by the local Ordinary should be observed.
24. The Importance of the Arrangement of Churches for Well-Ordered Celebrations
"The house of prayer where the most holy Eucharist is celebrated and preserved should be kept clean and in good order, suitable for prayer and sacred celebrations. It is there too that the faithful gather and find help and comfort in venerating the presence of the Son of God, our Saviour, offered for us on the altar of sacrifice."73
Pastors must realize then that the way the church is arranged greatly contributes to a worthy celebration and to the active participation of the people.
Above all, the main altar should be so placed and constructed that it is always seen to be the sign of Christ Himself, the place at which the saving mysteries are carried out, and the center of the assembly, to which the greatest reverence is due.
In adapting churches care will be taken not to destroy treasures of sacred art. If in the interests of liturgical renewal a local Ordinary decides, having obtained the advice of experts and—if necessary—the consent of those whom it concerns, to remove some of these works of art from their present position, it should be done with prudence and in such a way that even in their new surroundings they are well located.
Pastors will recall that the material and appearance of vestments greatly contributes to the dignity of liturgical celebrations. "They should strive after noble beauty rather than sumptuous display."74
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