Excluding the Penitential Act at Mass
Date: October 6, 2024
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Question: I am a Latin-rite Catholic. I would like to know about the exclusion of the Penitential Act in a nuptial Mass—is it a norm? If it was intended that the couples were to first have their confession made prior to the Mass, then how about the congregation that is joining the Eucharistic celebration? Do help me to understand this. -- P.A., Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Answer: Weddings are just one example of the application of a liturgical rule which foresees the omission of the introductory rites, in whole or in part, when the Mass is joined with the celebration of some sacraments or other liturgical rites.
This is foreseen in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):
“46. The rites that precede the Liturgy of the Word, namely, the Entrance, the Greeting, the Penitential Act, the Kyrie, the Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) and Collect, have the character of a beginning, an introduction, and a preparation. Their purpose is to ensure that the faithful, who come together as one, establish communion and dispose themselves properly to listen to the Word of God and to celebrate the Eucharist worthily.
“In certain celebrations that are combined with Mass according to the norms of the liturgical books, the Introductory Rites are omitted or take place in a particular way.”
The liturgical books are not always detailed with respect to when this happens.
For some rites the rubric simply says something like: “omitting the penitential rite, the Mass continues as usual.” In others the rubrics clearly spell out that the penitential rites are omitted. For example, when the Mass begins with the rite of blessing and sprinkling of water, the rubric indicates that on concluding the rite of sprinkling, the celebration immediately passes to the singing of the Gloria or to the collect.
The rubrics foresee the omission of the penitential rites when the sacrament of baptism and matrimony are celebrated within Mass.
Among the other liturgical rites which foresee the omission of the penitential rite are: when lauds or vespers are joined to Mass; the consecration or blessing of a church; the blessing of a new presidential chair; and the blessing of students and catechists at the beginning of the year insofar as it is substituted by a memorial of baptism.
It is not always clear whether omitting the penitential rite necessarily includes leaving aside the Kyrie. In the case of joining the Mass with lauds or vespers the Kyrie is optional.
No. 94 of the Introduction to the Divine Office says:
"The psalmody of morning prayer follows as usual, up to, but excluding, the reading. After the psalmody, the penitential rite is omitted and, as circumstances suggest, the Kyrie; the Gloria then follows, if required by the rubrics, and the celebrant says the opening prayer of the Mass. The liturgy of the word follows as usual."
This norm, therefore, allows both possibilities, with no preference being shown by the rubrics.
In conclusion, it seems that the introductory rites are omitted when joined to another series of liturgical rites at the beginning of Mass such as the rites of reception and welcome that are foreseen for weddings and baptisms.
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