General Instruction of the Roman Missal by Catholic Church

General Instruction of the Roman Missal Reviews

• 
  Andrew

  The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), is a guide to everything about the Mass. Concelebrating priests? Check paragraphs 199-251. Are you a reader and unsure about how to approach the ambo? Paragraph 195 (mixed with 275) is a little helpful.
  Don't know the difference between a bow and a profound bow, paragraph 275 is perfect (I was seriously confused).
  It contains all the necessary instructions for all sorts of situations, and shows how well thought out the Mass is. The Church wants to be sure that Holy Scripture and the Eucharist are able to be of central importance, that we might be better able to encounter Christ.
  If you serve in any way (usher, reader, lector, EMHC), you should read this book. It is important to understand how each role is meant to serve the ultimate purpose of the Mass, Christ's eternal sacrifice.
  
  Within this book are also the "Norms for Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States" and "Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar."
  
  The Church is very particular about Communion, and goes so far as to say that, if abuses of Extraordinary Ministers (as the Ordinary Ministers are priests and deacons) exist, then parishes should switch to Intinction (which is only done by a priest/deacon). I find that to be especially important.
  
  The Norms on the Calendar are equally fascinating. I didn't know that we should celebrate our home church's namesake as a solemnity. Or that the Bishop is responsible for our local calendar recognizing the saints of local/regional importance. Nor did I know that the Church reorganized the calendar because the bishops felt that all the special pious observations were beginning to distract from the primary purpose of the Mass. I still have no idea what Ember Days are, but the purpose wasn't to describe every type of piety, just describe how the Local Calendar should work.
  
  Seriously, this is an instruction manual, but I didn't know how important silence was to the Mass, nor how much the priest said quietly, and was only beginning to understand the Church calendar. This is an amazing read, and could be quoted from in catechetical classes or when someone misunderstands the meaning of the Mass.
  
  A useful tool.
• 
  Ross Allen Geiger

  I did read it cover to cover over a long period of time. It is enlightening if you are a Catholic and want to understand more why we do what we do during Mass. It is a good reference to answer questions and to explain to others the proper ways to participate in the rites of the Church.
• 
  Sean Whelan

  It is what it is.
• 
  Kathleen Kirchner

  Excellent reference
• 
  Matthew

  Please get the one for the new translation.
• 
  Chris Roy

  A great read to get a lot of vision and background about the Mass, as well as liturgical norms. However, it does start to get rather boring around 2/3rds is the way through
• 
  Fr. Kyle

  Unfortunately, it was the first time I read it. Connecting it with the new edition was great, How do you review a legal document? Not the most excited, but certainly preeminently informative.
• 
  Joyce

  Good. Reference, so it's difficult to rate. Anyway, I'm glad I read it, so I can stop making guesses about what are actually the instructions for the Mass.
• 
  Andrewhoover

  
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