Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest

Rating:
Summary: Useful resource to better appreciate the meaning of Sundays
Review: Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest (SCAP) is produced by the NCCB Committee on the Liturgy in accordance with the Directory issued from Rome to provide guidelines for such celebrations where there is a need, and where the bishop has authorized such celebrations. The book is bilingual, uses the official texts of the prayers from the Sacramentary and the Liturgy of the Hours, and uses the NAB with revised NT and psalms for various canticles. The book is approved for use in the US by NCCB, subject to the local bishop's authorization.

SCAP provides all the resources needed by a lay presider for such celebrations on Sundays and other holydays, eliminating the need to use the Sacramentary, and hence reducing confusion among the faithful. A deacon who presides may want to refer to the Sacramentary for other options that might be helpful on ocassions, even though SCAP is complete in itself. SCAP also does not eliminate the need for other liturgical materials, such as the Lectionary or the Liturgy of the Hours, even though a common text from the latter is provided in SCAP.

This book by Liturgical Press is beautifully crafted, befitting its use as a ritual book of the Church. At the same time, the design is not too elegant or eye-catching, hence emphasizing the nature of such celebrations as a temporary situation, as that of an assembly in anticipation of a priest for the celebration of the Eucharist. It has two ribbons, with Spanish and English texts printed on facing sides.

Proper catechesis is necessary before SCAP is used. And SCAP must never replace the Mass as the primary, privelaged and preferred form of worship for any Catholic community.

Rating:
Summary: Useful resource to better appreciate the meaning of Sundays
Review: The tongue in check title reflects my dissatifaction with the official prayers of the rite - I feel they belong to the sacramentary (Mass) and have not been sufficiently adapted to the celebration in the absence of a priest. However, the publisher correctly produces the ritual book as the book is officially blessed. In that context, I appreciate that this is a dual language ritual book - Spanish and English.

As is usual with official ritual books, the book begins with the decrees, theology and regulations associated with the rites. The volume provides three services with which the distribution of communion may be combined - morning prayer, evening prayer and the liturgy of the Word. Suggested general intercessions are provided which are useful where the presider is uncomfortable writing the intercessions. A variety of acts of thanksgiving are offered - primarily Psalms but also hymns and canticles. Prayers are given for all Sundays and other feast days. Blessings are given in forms for laity and for deacons. The final section is the official document setting forth the conditions for the use of the service.

The production of this book has given excellent consideration to readability and useability.

Rating:
Summary: Don't kill the messenger - appreciate the book
Review: The tongue in check title reflects my dissatifaction with the official prayers of the rite - I feel they belong to the sacramentary (Mass) and have not been sufficiently adapted to the celebration in the absence of a priest. However, the publisher correctly produces the ritual book as the book is officially blessed. In that context, I appreciate that this is a dual language ritual book - Spanish and English.

As is usual with official ritual books, the book begins with the decrees, theology and regulations associated with the rites. The volume provides three services with which the distribution of communion may be combined - morning prayer, evening prayer and the liturgy of the Word. Suggested general intercessions are provided which are useful where the presider is uncomfortable writing the intercessions. A variety of acts of thanksgiving are offered - primarily Psalms but also hymns and canticles. Prayers are given for all Sundays and other feast days. Blessings are given in forms for laity and for deacons. The final section is the official document setting forth the conditions for the use of the service.

The production of this book has given excellent consideration to readability and useability.