Niedzielna liturgia bez Mszy świętej? Doświadczenia pastoralne i wskazania Kościoła
Sunday’s liturgy without Holy Mass? Pastoral experience and Church’s guidelines

Summary/Abstract: Due to the fact that only a priest (presbyter or bishop) can preside at Holy Mass, his absence means that the faithful cannot fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist. In such cases the celebration of Sunday Mass by the community of faithful who are deprived of a priest, requires alternative liturgical forms to take place. However these organizations are responsible and answerable both to the diocesan bishop and the local parish priest. Among the most common celebrations in such situations are found the Liturgy of the Word: consisting of Sundays’ readings with the distribution of the Holy Communion. Another form that can be applied is the celebration of an appropriate part of the Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds or Vespers). If the liturgy is presided over by a deacon, he sits in the sanctuary (Sedilia), if it is presided by an authorized moderator, a lay man or woman, he/she presides the liturgy from outside the sanctuary. The indications and principles of the Sundays liturgical celebration without a priest are given by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. If the faithful cannot attend these kinds of celebrations, it is recommended for them to take part in religious broadcasting or to read the Bible with prayers from the missal. It is also suggested to encourage the desire for the Eucharist and for spiritual communion.

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