First in a series of articles on the celebration of the Mass by Fr Garfield Rochard, member, Liturgical Commission, Archdiocese of Port of Spain and consultant, Antilles Liturgical Commission

The Holy See after the Second Vatican Council facilitated all the various Episcopal Conferences throughout the world with provisional texts in their various languages to celebrate the revised rites of worship, which came from the Council itself.

During the use of the provisional texts, there was the clear understanding that the various conferences would work on the official texts for the Holy See’s approval and definitive use.

The Conferences that were to use English as the language spoken in their countries, and those who use English as the official language along with their other daily spoken native language were by far the largest number of Episcopal Conferences.

 recall the event when the representatives of these met in Rome for the 25th Anniversary of the Decree on the Sacred Liturgy in 1984. There were about 48 different conferences for English, the largest number in the world.

With us English-speaking representatives at his historic meeting were the representatives of ICEL – the International Commission for English in the Liturgy and the other language Conferences. The main English-speaking conferences at the Vatican Council in the 1960s had formed a working body to handle that enormous task of translations into English from the Latin texts since the Council.

Because of the large number of Conferences using English, it became very difficult to get a suitable text to represent clearly the use of English words and their meanings in varying cultures.

We are awaiting the final presentation of such for the Order of Mass. Recently, at the end of July, word was received that one segment of the official text, called the Common of the Mass was released. Hopefully we should see the Common, then the Presidential Prayers for Sundays and Solemnities and finally those for all the Saints.

As a few of the texts need to have appropriate music put with them, we need to assess what preparatory music work has to be done. However, before the full release of this historic work, we have the opportunity to tidy up in our own dioceses and episcopal conference the variety of gestures, movements, postures during the Eucharistic Celebration.

These are not text issues but directives and guidelines given when the rites were renewed and those decisions taken by the Antilles Episcopal Conference as directed in the Rites themselves.
The Universal Church authorises each episcopal region to make certain decisions for their own region with respect to certain aspects of the rites.

The purpose of these articles is to review what was given in the pastoral guidelines long ago and those which have been repeated in subsequent documents from the Holy See.

Certain things need reinforcing here in the archdiocese, particularly in instances where some have been forgotten or not known, or people being taught differently.
Let’s tidy up our celebration.