WHAT'S THE LATEST LITURGICAL WORD?

GIRM's THE WORD!

What in the name of all that's good and holy does the word GIRM have to do with the Mass?

As you know, all the prayers and directions for celebrating the Mass are found in the Church's book of prayers called the Roman Missal or Sacramentary, the large red book that we see on the altar at each Mass. Since the end of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (1965) the Roman Missal has been edited four times - 1969, 1975, 2000 and 2002. Each time the missal is edited the Church also edits The General Instruction of the Roman Missal - GIRM - that is found at the beginning of the Missal.

Articles to consult concerning GIRM:

• "Changes in the Mass: The New General Instruction"  by Lawrence E. Mick,  Catholic Update, July©2003;...celebration, and to which the Christian people have a right and duty by reason of their Baptism. (GIRM, #17-18) The goal is not, then, to return to the era when we thought of the Mass as...

• "The General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 1969–2002, (GIRM)"  The Liturgical Press, 1-800-858-5450.