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Confirmation of the Lectionary for Mass
At the opening plenary session of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 1997 in Washington D.C., Archbishop Jerome G, Hanus, OSB, announced that Bishop Anthony Pilla, President of the NCCB, had received the decree of confirmation for volume I of the Lectionary for Mass for use in the Dioceses of the United States of America from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
An English translation of the Decree follows:
AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS Prot. 1667/97/L UNITED STATES OF AMERICA In response to the request of His Excellency Anthony M. Pilla, Bishop of Cleveland, President of the Conference of Bishops of the United States of America, made in a letter dated August 11, 1997, and in virtue of faculties granted to this Congregation by Pope John Paul II, we gladly confirm the first volume of the Mass Lectionary drawn up in English with the title Lectionary for Mass for use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, and annexed to this Decree. In printed editions of the text there should be inserted in its entirety this Decree by which the Apostolic See accords the requested confirmation of the sole translation to be used in the celebration of Holy Mass in all the dioceses of the United States of America. Moreover, two copies of the printed text should be forwarded to this Congregation. All things to the contrary notwithstanding. From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, October 6, 1997.
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It may be noted that the decree specifies that this translation will be the sole translation (inicζ interpretationis) to be used in the celebration of Holy Mass in all the dioceses of the United States of America. The forthcoming decree of publication by the NCCB President will, therefore, specify a date for mandatory use of the Lectionary, after which date no other translation of the Lectionary for Mass, even those previously confirmed, may be used in United States of America.
In an accompanying letter to Bishop Pilla, Archbishop Medina, pro-prefect of the Congregation expressed the thanks of the Congregation for the cordial and generous cooperation that has been evident in all the recent work on the Lectionary... He continued, I would offer every encouragement for the conclusion of the work on the remaining material and assure You Excellency of the readiness of this Congregation to give every possible assistance.
Clarification Concerning Eastern Rite Churches
The Secretariat for the Liturgy has received inquiries concerning the applicability of articles in the BCL Newsletter to liturgical practices in Churches of the Eastern Rites. All material contained in this newsletter concerning liturgical texts and rites pertains to Latin Rite dioceses only. Commentary on liturgical texts and rites in Eastern Catholic churches should be sought from the appropriate bodies in each of these Churches.
Also in this issue . . .
November Meeting of the NCCB Committee on the Liturgy
November Meeting of the NCCB
In Memoriam Most Reverend Walter Curtis