Liturgy Resources

Current Liturgical Documents

Below are links to the major liturgical documents that currently guide all our liturgical celebrations as well as some websites with further information.

Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum concilium)

December 4, 1963 – Second Vatican Council 

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was the first document produced by the Second Vatican Council.  It was accepted by the bishops of the council by a vote of 2147 to 4 and subsequently promulgated by Pope Paul VI.  The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy provides the basis and framework for the renewal of the liturgy that followed Vatican II.  This includes not only a revision of the liturgical rites, but a renewal and reinvigoration of our understanding of what the liturgy is. Therefore, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is the not only the foundation of current liturgical law, but it provides the basic pastoral framework for realizing the liturgy in our worshipping communities.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal

Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 2000; English translation published by USCCB March 19, 2002

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.shtml

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal is the English language version of the official detailed instructions for how to carry out the liturgy of the Mass.  The current version of the General Instruction is part of the third edition of the Roman Missal. It includes several adaptations for Mass celebrated in the United States.

Musicam sacram (Instruction on Sacred Music)

March 5, 1967 – Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship

http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_instr_19670305_musicam-sacram_en.html

Soon after the closing of the Second Vatican Council, the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (the Holy See’s liturgical office) produced an Instruction entitled Musicam sacram to provide guidance for those planning liturgical music in the context of the implementation of the renewal of the liturgy.  Today, Musicam sacram remains the official Instruction on the music of the liturgy. In reading it, however, one must bear in mind that it was produced several years before the revision of the Mass was completed and a number of its prescriptions were superseded by later reforms.

Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship

November 14, 2007 – U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/SingToTheLord.pdf

An extensive, thorough document on liturgical music produced by the bishops of the United States, it discusses the purpose of sacred music in the liturgy, gives guidance to clergy and music ministers concerning the roles of different members of the worshipping assembly, and proposes criteria for choosing appropriate music for the Mass and other liturgies.  It is the current U. S. document on liturgical music, replacing Music in Catholic Worship (1970)/Liturgical Music Today (1980).

Other useful websites

U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops - Committee on Divine Worship  http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/

Roman Missal, Third Edition (new translation)  http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/

National Association of Pastoral Musicians  http://www.npm.org

Diocese of Arlington - Office of Worship  http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/worship/index.php

The Holy See (English) http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

Liturgy Office of the Catholic Conference of Bishops of England and Wales

http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/