Rites of the Catholic Church, Volume One (Volume 1)

I purchased this for a class on the Sacraments. I is very interesting to someone who is curious about what is being said and done during each of the Sacraments. However, it is not for someone looking for an explanation of the Sacraments themselves, how they developed, or the Church's teachings on the Sacraments. It is not light reading. It really is for parish and scholarly use.

While only the actual Missals are "authoritative", the "study editions" are a wonderful resource for Roman Catholic liturgists, musicians, RCIA folks, Deacons, Presbyters, and others. Well constructed, good paper, highly legible. An essential tool for all of the ministers mentioned above.

The Preface states, "The Roman Ritual has undergone numerous revisions since the edition of Pope Paul V, of 1614. Now, in response to the directives of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, a new edition has been undertaken by the Holy See. One of the animating principles that has guided the preparation of the new rites is to encourage the people of God to understand and participate more fully in their sacred celebrations... The purpose of this book is to bring together for the first time in one volume those rites which are essential to the planning of liturgical celebrations and which are frequently studied and referred to in theology courses and are of special concern to the laity in general."It notes that for the initiation of adults, "This journey includes not only the periods for making inquiry and for maturing... but also the steps marking the catechumens' progress, as they pass, so to speak, through another doorway or ascend to the next level. 1. The first step: reaching the point of initial conversion and wishing to become Christians, they are accepted as catechumens by the Church. 2. The second step: having progressed in faith and nearly competed the catechumenate, they are accepted into a more intense preparation for the sacraments of initiation. 3. The third step: having completed their spiritual preparation, they receive the sacraments of Christian initiation." (Pg. 36) It adds of the postbaptismal period, "This is the time, usually the Easter season, following the celebration of initiation, during which the newly initiated experience being fully a part of the Christian community by means of pertinent catechesis and particularly by participation with all the faithful in the Sunday eucharistic celebration." (Pg. 49)It points out, "In the case of Eastern Christians who enter into the fulness of Catholic communion, no liturgical rite is required, but simply a profession of Catholic faith, even if such persons are permitted, in virtue of recourse to the Apostolic See, to transfer to the Roman Rite." (Pg. 275) An Appendix states, "The term 'catechumen' should be strictly reserved for the unbaptized who have been admitted into the order of catechumens; the term 'convert' should be reserved strictly for those converted from unbelief to Christian belief and never used of those baptized Christians who are received into the full communion of the Catholic Church." (Pg. 341)It notes, "Those who have already been baptized in another Church or ecclesial community should not be treated as catechumens or so designated. Their doctrinal and spiritual preparation for reception into full Catholic communion should be determined according to the individual case, that it, it should depend on the extent to which the baptized person has led a Christian life within a community of faith and been appropriately catechized to deepen his or her inner adherence to the Church." (Pg. 346)Of the "Rite for Reconciliation of Penitents with General Confession and Absolution," it states, "An individual, complete confession and the receiving of absolution constitute the sole, ordinary means for a member of the faithful who is conscious of serious sin to be reconciled with God and the Church. Physical or moral impossibility alone excuses from this kind of confession; in the case of such impossibility, reconciliation is possible in other ways. Absolution without prior, individual confession cannot be given collectively to a number of penitents unless; a) the danger of death is imminent... b) ... given the number of penitents, not enough confessors are available to hear the individual confessions properly within a reasonable time, with the result that through no fault of their own, the faithful would be forced to be for a long time without the grace of the sacrament or without communion. The need in question is not regarded as sufficient when the nonavailability of confessors is based solely on there being a large number of penitents, such as may be the case at some great festival or pilgrimage." (Pg. 539)

Most liturgists and theology students need only THE RITES, Volume One to use as a reference work. Unless you are planning diocesan-level celebrations or Episcopal liturgies, all your tools are right here. Indispensable for liturgical preparation!

Don’t buy this. It’s the old version

Great guide to the Rites of the Catholic Church

Excellent resource/gift for a priest

Perfect

Clear details and lots of explanation s, so not only what to do, but why.

Excellent

Helpful