Bishops approve liturgical music guidelines, revised Advent readings

Published: 2006-11-15

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- The U.S. bishops approved new norms for liturgical music and revised the texts of some Advent Mass readings Nov. 14 during their fall general assembly in Baltimore. The norms, designed to ensure that hymns used at Mass are "doctrinally correct" and based on Scripture and liturgical texts, were part of a "Directory for Music and the Liturgy" approved on a 195-21 vote with five abstentions. The directory and norms now go to the Vatican for approval. The Lectionary readings for Advent, OK'd by a vote of 205-13 with two abstentions, marked the beginning of a long process of reviewing all the Scripture readings used in Latin-rite Masses in the United States. Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, Pa., chairman of the bishops' Committee on the Liturgy, said the next section to be revised will be the readings for Lent. Once the Lectionary is completely revised, it also will go to the Vatican for its assent.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .