Church Documents: Roman Catholic
Sacram Liturgiam
PAUL VI, Motu Proprio Sacram Liturgiam, on putting into effect some prescriptions of the Constitution on the Liturgy, 25 January 1964: AAS 56 (1964) 139-144. [Documents on the Liturgy, 1963-1979, (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1983) Document 20, pp. 84ff.]
Table of Contents
That the sacred liturgy be carefully safeguarded, developed, and, where necessary, reformed has been the concern of earlier popes, of ourself, and of the bishops of the Church. The many published documents on liturgical topics, known to all, confirm this. So does the Constitution on the Liturgy, approved with near unanimity by Vatican Council II in solemn session and promulgated 4 December 1963.
The concern for the liturgy rests on the fact that "in the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle (see Rv 21:2; Col 3:1; Heb 8:2); we sing a hymn to the Lord's glory with the whole company of heaven; venerating the memory of the saints, we hope for some part and communion with them; we eagerly await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, until he, our life, shall appear and we too will appear with him in glory (see Phil 3:20; Col 3:2)." SC art. 8 [DOL 1 no. 8].
The hearts of the faithful who so worship God, the source and exemplar of all holiness, are therefore drawn, even compelled, to seek this holiness and in this way to become in this earthly pilgrimage "seekers of holy Zion." Hymn of lauds, feast of the Dedication of a Church.
Accordingly, our foremost concern is clearly that the faithful,
and especially priests, dedicate themselves first of all to the study of
the Constitution on the Liturgy and from this moment on prepare themselves
to carry out its prescriptions wholeheartedly as soon as these take effect.
Because by the very nature of the case the understanding and dissemination
of liturgical laws must go into effect without delay, we earnestly exhort
bishops of dioceses to an immediate, intense effort, aided by their sacred
ministers, "the stewards of God's mysteries," 1
Cor 4:1. so that their own faithful, in keeping with their age, particular
state in life, and level of culture will grasp the innate power and value
of the liturgy and at the same time participate The definitive text in AAS emended the text as published in OR, 29 Jan. 1964,
p. 1. The two texts will be noted throughout where the changes occur. Here:
AAS: participent.
OR: intersint.
devoutly, body and soul, in the rites of the Church. See
SC art. 19 [DOL 1 no. 19].
Many of the prescriptions of the Constitution clearly cannot be put into effect in a short period of time, since some of the rites must first be revised and new liturgical books prepared. In order that this work may be carried out in the wisdom and prudence required, we are setting up a special commission with the principal task of seeing that the prescriptions of the Constitution are put into effect.
Other norms of the Constitution, however, are applicable now; we desire their immediate observance, so that the faithful may no longer be without the anticipated fruits of grace.
By apostolic authority and motu proprio, therefore, we prescribe and decree that the following norms shall go into effect beginning with the First Sunday of Lent, 16 February 1964, the expiration date of the established vacatio legis.
I. The norms in art. 15, 16, and 17 on the teaching of liturgy in seminaries, houses of study of religious, and theological faculties are to be incorporated into their programs of study in such a way that with the beginning of the next academic year students may devote themselves to liturgical studies in an orderly and intense way.
II. In keeping with the norms of art, 45 and 46, in all dioceses
there is to be AAS: … art. 45 et 46, in singulis diocesibus
Consilium habeatur, …
OR: art. 45 et 46, quam primum in singulis dioecesibus
Consilium condatur, … a commission that is entrusted, under the bishop's direction, with the duty
of increasing the knowledge and furthering the progress of the liturgy.
In this matter it may be advantageous for several dioceses to have a joint commission.
Each diocese should also, as far as possible, have two other commissions, AAS: Praeterea in quavis dioecesi, quantum fieri
potest, duo alia habeantur Consilia: …
OR: Praeterea in quavis diocesi duo alia constituantur
Consilia: …
one for music, the other for art.
In some dioceses it will often be advisable to merge the three commissions
into one. AAS: Quae tria Consilia in singula dioecesi non
raro congruet, ut in unum coalescant.
OR: Quae tria Consilia in singula dioecesi, si
opus erit, in unum concedere poterunt.
III. On the date already established, the norms of art. 52 shall
take effect, namely, that there be a homily during Mass AAS: … in Missis habendae …
OR: … inter Eucharisticum sacrificium
habendae …
on Sundays and holydays of obligation.
IV. We direct the implementation of the part of art. 71 that permits
the sacrament of confirmation to be celebrated, when convenient, within Mass
after the reading of the gospel and the homily. AAS: … statuimus, ex qua Sacramentum Confirmationis,
pro opportunitate, intra Missam, post lectionem Evangelii et homiliam,
conferri potest …
OR: … statuimus, qua venia datur Sacramentum
Confirmationis inter Eucharisticum sacrificium pro opportunitate conferendi …
V. Regarding art. 78, the sacrament of marriage is normally to
be celebrated within Mass, after the gospel has been read and the homily
given. AAS: … attinet, Matrimonii Sacramentum
de more intra Missam celebretur, post lectum Evangelium et habitam homiliam.
OR: … attinet, omnes quorum interest,
monemus, Matrimonii Sacramentum de more inter Eucharisticum sacrificium
celebrandum esse, post lectum Evangelium et habitam homiliam.
Should marriage be celebrated without a Mass, the following regulations,
pending revision of the entire rite, are to be observed: at the beginning
of the rite, following a brief instruction, See SC
art. 35, § 3 [DOL 1 no. 35]. the epistle and gospel of the nuptial
Mass are to be read in the vernacular; then the blessing found in the Rituale
Romanum, tit. VIII, cap. III is always to be given to the spouses. AAS: Quodsi Matrimonium sine Missa celebretur … haec
serventur: … post brevem habitam admonitionem legantur lingua
vernacula Epistula et Evangelium e Missa pro Sponsis deprompta;
ac deinde ea benedictio Sponsis semper impertiatur quae …
OR: Quodsi Matrimonium extra Eucharisticum sacrificum
celebretur … haec servari iubemus: initio sacrae huius caeremoniae,
post brevem habitam exhortationem … legantur Epistula et Evangelium
e Missa pro Sponsis deprompta; ac deinde ea benedictio, uti vocant,
Sponsis impertiatur quae …
VI. Although the order for divine office has not yet been revised
and reformed, in keeping with art. 89, those not bound by choral obligation AAS: … tamen iam nunc iis qui chori obligatione
non astringuntur …
OR: … tamen iam nunc iis qui illius recitandi
obligatione non astringuntur …
now have our permission, from the expiration date of the vacatio legis, to
omit the hour of prime and to choose from among the other little hours the
one best suited to the time of day.
We make this concession with the full confidence that sacred ministers will not grow slack in devotion, but rather that, if they diligently carry out the duties of their priestly office for the love of God, they will see themselves as going through the day closely united in spirit with him.
VII. Also in regard to the divine office, Ordinaries may, in particular
cases and for just cause, dispense their subjects from the obligation, in
whole or in part, or may replace it with something else. See
SC art. 97 [DOL 1 no. 97]. AAS: … pertinet, in casibus singularibus
et de iusta causa, Ordinarii possunt …
OR: … pertinet, est ea venia iam nunc
obtineant praecipimus cuius vi in casibus singularibus et de iusta et
bene considerata causa, Ordinarii possunt …
VIII. In regard also to recitation of the office, we declare that AAS: De eadem divini Officii recitatione declaramus,
cuiusvis …
OR: De eadem divini Officii recitatione constare
volumus, cuiusvis …
members of any institute of religious perfection who by reason of their own
rule recite either some part of the divine office or a little office, structured
like the divine office and duly approved, shall be counted as celebrating public
prayer with the Church. See SC art. 98 [DOL 1 no. 98].
IX. To those bound to recite the divine office art. 101 of the
Constitution grants the faculty — in various ways and for various classes
of people — to use the vernacular instead of Latin. Therefore it seems
advisable to make it clear that the various vernacular versions must be drawn
up and approved by the competent, territorial ecclesiastical authority, as
provided in art. 36, §§ 3 and 4; and that, as provided in art.
36, § 3, the acts of this authority require due approval, that is, confirmation,
of the Holy See. AAS: … opportunum ducimus significare,
varias huiusmodi populares interpretationes, a competente auctoritate
ecclesiastica territoriali conficiendas et approbandas esse, ad normam
art. 36, §§ 3 et 4; acta vero huius auctoritatis, ad normam
eiusdem art, 36, § 3, ab Apostolica Sede esse rite probanda seu
confirmanda. Quod ut semper …
OR: … opportunum ducimus significare varias
huiusmodi populares interpretationes a competente auctoritate ecclesiastica
territoriali propositas, ab Apostolica Sede de esse rite recognoscendas
atque probandas. Quod ut semper … This is the course to be taken whenever any Latin liturgical text is translated
into the vernacular by the authority already mentioned.
X. Whenever the Constitution (art. 22, § 2), entrusts regulation of the liturgy, within certain specified limits, to various types of competent, lawfully constituted, territorial assemblies of bishops, we decree that for the present these must be national bodies.
In such national assemblies, besides the residential bishops, all those mentioned in CIC can. 292 may participate and vote; coadjutor and auxiliary bishops may also be summoned to meetings.
Passage of lawful decrees in these bodies requires two-thirds of the votes, cast by secret ballot.
XI. Finally, we want it understood that over and above the liturgical
matters changed by this Apostolic Letter or made effective before the date
established, regulation of the liturgy depends exclusively on the authority
of the Church, i.e., of the Holy See and of the bishop in accordance with
the law; therefore no other person, not even a priest, may add, take away,
or change anything in matters of liturgy. AAS: … penes Episcopum; atque idcirco
nemini omnino alii, ne sacerdoti quidem, licere …
OR: … penes Episcopum, atque idcirco nemini
omnino alii, etiamsi sacerdoti, licere …
We order that all matters decreed by this Letter, issued motu proprio, are confirmed and established, anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
