Text revisions in the Order of Mass
“A truly important moment in Liturgy in the United States.”Bishop Donald W. Trautman
Chairman, Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy
Valued customers of GIA Publications, Inc.—
You have probably heard the recent news coverage regarding the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ approval of a more literal translation of the Order of Mass. We at GIA are taking great care in staying up-to-date on the latest information regarding this important matter. At this point, we do not know any more than what has been reported. What we do know is that changes to the Order of Mass are certain, and these changes will eventually become mandatory for use in Catholic worship.
A date for implementation has not been set. The proposed changes, along with the Bishops’ amendments, have been submitted to the Vatican and now await approval. The press has reported that it will be a year or two before the changes are made official, and one stated possibility is that the revised Order of Mass will not be released until the entire Roman Missal revision is finished. This could take many years.
Historically, GIA has endeavored to offer high-quality hymnals containing the finest music in the best possible format at the most reasonable price. You can be certain that GIA’s commitment to permanent hymnals is unwavering.
We find ourselves in an era of transition. These are exciting times, and we joyfully anticipate this new translation. As a publisher of worship materials, it is our responsibility to see to it that the appropriate resources are made available to pastoral musicians and their assemblies. It will be the responsibility of pastoral musicians to implement these changes at the parish level.
Since the announcement of these changes, many of our concerned customers, both current owners of GIA hymnals and those contemplating a purchase, have called with questions about how GIA intends to facilitate these text changes. GIA’s plan is to prepare a hymnal supplement containing musical settings of the new texts by some of the best composers of music for the church.
For those who currently own GIA hymnals, a complimentary supplement will be sent, upon request, to those who purchased their hymnals within seven years of the implementation of the revised Order of Mass.
For those contemplating the purchase of a new GIA hardbound hymnal, we first want you to know you will qualify for the above-mentioned supplement under the stated terms. Second, it is impossible to predict a date for the mandatory implementation of the revised liturgy, and the decision to invest in a hardbound hymnal for your parish is an important decision that only you can make. There is a lot for you to consider and whatever resource you currently use will certainly play a part in your decision.
Please keep in mind that the songs and hymns, which constitute the majority of all GIA’s hymnals, will still be perfectly viable for many years to come. The proposed changes will only involve a few phrases within the Order of Mass. To reiterate, GIA will provide a complimentary supplement that will satisfy all the requirements of the revised Order of Mass.
Rest assured, GIA will stay abreast of the situation and will continue to consider any additional options that may arise based on future circumstances.
We live in exciting times! “O Sing a New Song to the Lord!”