General and Introductory Materials
Part 5:  Liturgical Law

Chapter 53 Who Writes the Rites

Preliminary Questions

[Return to top of this page]

Bibliography

[Return to top of this page]

Method for Promulgating a New Rite

1. Latin (typical) edition published with an Apostolic Constitution declaring the new book to be the typical edition. 
2. Latin typical edition gives a date when the rite (in Latin) may be used.
3. Latin typical edition gives a date when the rite (in Latin) must be used.
4. Bishops' Conferences (e.g. USCCB) receive the Latin Typical Edition and give it to their translators.
5. ICEL receives the text and prepares an English translation for the member countries.
6. The USCCB receives the ICEL text and gives it to their BCL for pastoral adaptations for the USA and then for consultation with the US bishops.
7. The USCCB gives "approval" to the rite with a two-thirds positive vote of the de jure Roman Rite Bishops
8. The USCCB sends the text to the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for its (recognitio, or sometimes confirmatio) "confirmation."
9. CDWDS recognizes / confirms the bishops' approval.
10. The text is published in English.
11. The USCCB American English edition gives a date when the rite (in English) may be used.
12. The USCCB American English edition gives a date when the rite (in English) must be used.

Example:  Roman Lectionary

1969 May 25,  Decree from Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship promulgating the first typical edition of the Roman Lectionary.

1969 November 30,  (First Sunday of Advent) Date on which the Latin text may and must be used.

1970 February 11,  Date on which the English text of edition one may be used.  Quickly translated by ICEL, presented by the BCL for the approval of the USCCB and confirmed SCDW.

1970 July 24, Decree of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship promulgating the second typical edition of the Roman Lectionary.

[Before the USCCB could get the approbatio on the second edition, Rome publishes the third edition of the Lectionary.]

1981 January 21, Decree of the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship promulgating the third typical edition of the Roman Lectionary.

1992 June 20, After working on the text for ten years the ICEL translation of third typical edition is approved by the USCCB. 

2001 June 6  Letter from the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship to Bishop Fiorenza, president of the USCCB, confirming the English edition of the Lectionary to be used in the United States.   (This text had been approved by the USCCB in 1992, but during the intervening nine years the 1992 English text is substantially revised by the SCSDW before giving their "confirmatio".)

2001 June 29  Decree from (Bishop Fiorenza, president of the) USCCB, authorizing the use of the English translation of the 1992 third typical edition, and giving the dates when it can and must be used (Feb 13, and May 19, 2002 respectively). 

2002 February 13 (Ash Wednesday) the weekday Lectionary (third typical edition) for the USA can be used in English.

2002 May 19 (Pentecost) the entire Lectionary (Sundays and Weekdays) for the USA is mandatory. 

This third edition of the Lectionary is  published in four volumes:

1. Volume I, first published in 1998, consists of readings for Sundays and Solemnities.

2. Volume II, will include Week I of the Proper of Seasons for Weekdays, as well as the complete Propers and Commons of the Saints.

3. Volume III will include Week II of the Proper of Seasons for Weekdays, as well as the complete Propers and Commons of the Saints.

4. Volume IV will include Ritual Masses and Masses for Various Needs, including Masses for the Holy Church, for public needs, in various public circumstances, for various needs and commons of the Saints.  Volume IV will also include Votive Masses and Masses for the Dead.

   [Return to top of this page]

   

To Think About

[Return to top of this page]

© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved.  This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.  Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own.  Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it.  This site was updated on 06/05/07 .  Your comments on this site are welcome at webmaster2@tomrichstatter.org.