What do the ordination rituals and the Chrism Mass tell the clergy?
[31.] In keeping with the solemn promises that they have made in the rite of Sacred Ordination and renewed each year in the Mass of the Chrism, let Priests celebrate “devoutly and faithfully the mysteries of Christ for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people, according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation”.[Roman Pontifical, De Ordinatione Presbyterorum 124; cf. Missale Romanum, Feria V in Hebdomada Sancta: Ad Missam chrismatis, Renovatio promissionum sacerdotalium, p. 292] They ought not to detract from the profound meaning of their own ministry by corrupting the liturgical celebration either through alteration or omission, or through arbitrary additions.[Cf. Ecumenical Council of Trent, Session VII, 3 March 1547, Decree on the Sacraments, canon 13, DS 1613; Sacrosanctum Concilium 22; Mediator Dei: AAS 39 (1947) pp. 544, 546-547, 562; Code of Canon Law 846, § 1; GIRM 24.] For as St. Ambrose said, “It is not in herself . . . but in us that the Church is injured. Let us take care so that our own failure may not cause injury to the Church”.[St. Ambrose, De Virginitate, n. 48: PL 16, 278] Let the Church of God not be injured, then, by Priests who have so solemnly dedicated themselves to the ministry. Indeed, under the Bishop’s authority let them faithfully seek to prevent others as well from committing this type of distortion.
No adding, subtracting, or substitution.
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