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Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council Promulgated by His Holiness Paul VI December 4, 1963

Topical Outline

1. Introduction: nature of the liturgy, and its reform (1-4) 2. General principles for the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy A. The nature of the liturgy and its importance in the Church’s life 1. The mission of Jesus Christ and his (5) 2. The mission of the apostles: the (6) 3. The liturgy and the priestly office of Jesus Christ (7) “To accomplish so great a work, Christ is always present in the sacrifice of the , not only in the person of his minister, ‘the same now offering, through the ministry of priests, who formerly offered himself on the cross’ but especially under the Eucharistic species. By his power he is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ himself who baptizes. He is present in his Word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for he promised ‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them’ (Mt 18:20). (Italics added)

Christ indeed always associates the Church with himself in this great work wherein God is perfectly glorified and men are sanctified. …Rightly, then, the liturgy is considered as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. In the liturgy the sanctification of man is signified by signs perceptible to the senses, and is effected in a way which corresponds with each of these signs; in the liturgy the whole public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the head and his members. …Every liturgical celebration …is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree.” (Italics added)

4. Foretaste of the heavenly liturgy (8) 5. The liturgy and other activity of the Church (9-11) 6. Extra-liturgical prayer and popular devotions (12-13) B. Promotion of liturgical instruction and active participation (14-20) “Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that full, conscious active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as a ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people’ (I Pt 2:9; cf, 2L4-5) is their right and duty by reason of their Baptism.

In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit.” (SC 14) C. Reform of the sacred liturgy (21) 1. General norms (22-25) (authority of the Holy See and local bishops) 2. Norms drawn from the hierarchic and communal nature of the liturgy (26-32) (Liturgy is the public prayer of the Church not private devotion/domain)

3. Norms based on the didactic and pastoral nature of the liturgy (33-36) 4. Norms for adapting the liturgy to cultures (37-40) D. Promotion of liturgical life in the and (41-42) E. Promotion of pastoral-liturgical action (43-46) 3. The sacred mystery of the Eucharist A. The Eucharistic mystery (47) B. Principles for the renewal of the Eucharistic liturgy 1. Active participation of the faithful (48-49) “The Church, …earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith , should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers, they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration.” (48)

2. Simplification of rites (50) 3. Greater use of Scripture (51) 4. The and prayer of the faithful (52-53) 5. The use of the vernacular (54) “In Masses which are celebrated with the people, a suitable place may be allotted to their mother tongue. …Steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or sing together in Latin those parts of the of the Mass which pertain to them. And wherever a more extended use of the mother tongue within the Mass appears desirable, the regulations laid down in Art. 40 of this Constitution is to be observed.” (54)

6. “The dogmatic principles which were laid down by the remaining intact, Communion under both kinds may be granted when bishops think fit, not only to clerics and religious but also to the laity, in cases to be determined by the Apostolic See.” (55)

7. Unity of the liturgy of the word and the Eucharistic liturgy (56) 8. Concelebration 4. The other sacraments and sacramental A. Purpose of the sacraments and sacramental (59-61) B. Necessary revisions (62) 1. Use of the vernacular and revision of ritual books (63) 2. Restoration of the catechumenate (64-65) 3. Baptism (66-70) 4. Confirmation (71) 5. Penance (72) 6. Anointing of the Sick (73-75) 7. Orders (76) 8. Matrimony (77-78) 9. Sacramentals (79) 10. Religious Profession (80) 11. Christian burial (81-82) 5. The divine office A. Prayer of Christ and the Church (83-85) B. Importance of this prayer (86) C. Particular directives for its revision (87-101) 6. The liturgical year A. The liturgical year unfolds the mysteries of redemption 1. Centrality of the mystery of Christ (102) 2. The Blessed Virgin Mary (103) 3. The saints (104) B. Revision of the liturgical year 1. Importance of Sunday (106) 2. Sacred seasons (107-108) a. Lent (109-110) b. Feasts of saints (111) 7. Sacred Music A. Importance of sacred music (112) “The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this preeminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy. …Sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action.” (112)

B. Various directives (113-121) (, pipe organ, music education in seminaries, use of indigenous music, etc.)

8. Sacred art and furnishings (122-130)

9. Appendix: the liturgical calendar