Another Liturgical Change

Yesterday over a dinner the newly appointed director of our Office of Worship indicated that we will soon receive an official notice about another change in the liturgy. Perhaps rather than change, I might call the new directive an instruction to return to previous practice. In a couple of months, if not sooner, we will be notified that the only persons who can purify a sacred vessels are members of the clergy --- deacon, priest, bishop or instituted acolyte. Ministers of Holy Communion will no longer be granted the permission.

In an Oct. 23 letter, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asked his fellow bishops to inform all pastors of the change, which was prompted by a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The committee document also suggested distribution of Communion by consecrated bread alone or by intinction when the number of communicants makes the purification of vessels by priests, deacons or instituted acolytes alone "pastorally problematic."In the United States, instituted acolytes, who must be male, generally are seminarians preparing for priesthood or men in formation for the permanent diaconate.

A little more information can be read at the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops website.