Voting Booth

The following is a list of the votes taken by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops on the new sacramentary. Parts of this report first appeared in the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions Newsletter and is reprinted here with their permission.

November 1994

De iure: 262 bishops; 2/3 majority = 175

SEGMENT I: ORDINARY TIME

Pastoral Introduction and Collects for the Sundays of Ordinary Time

Approved: 224 affirmative votes, 14 negative votes, 23 prayers remanded for reconsideration

SEGMENT II: PROPER OF SEASON
Pastoral Introductions and Collects for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Solemnities of the Lord in Ordinary Time, Feasts of the Lord and Saints

Ritual Masses for Christian Initiation — the Scrutinies

Approved: 185 affirmative votes, 17 negative votes, 33 texts remanded for reconsideration

June 1995

De iure: 264 bishops; 2/3 majority = 176

SEGMENT III: ORDER OF MASS
Order of Mass I: Liturgical texts including eucharistic prayers

(ecumenical texts voted separately)
Additional texts for the greeting, rite of blessing and sprinkling, invitation and absolution for the penitential rite, litany of praise, (Kyrie), revisions of and interpolations for the eucharistic prayers and invitation for the memorial acclamation
Approved: 183 affirmative votes, 72 negative votes

ELLC Ecumenical Texts: (Kyrie eleison, Gloria, Apostles' Creed, Sursum Corda, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei)

Minimal changes except: Nicene Creed, revisions to read:
Of one Being with the Father; ...
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit
and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake ...
He suffered death and was buried ...

Suggested no change in the present text of the Our Father

Approved: 189 affirmative votes, 65 negative votes

ICEL Liturgical Variations

13 minor rubrical variations: options and texts for the entrance rites, the acclamation after the gospel, the renewal of baptismal promises and Apostles' Creed as options for the Profession of Faith, deacon giving the invitation to memorial acclamation and rubric for the sign of peace, blessing, and dismissal.
Approved 179 affirmative votes, 75 negative votes

USA Adaptations to the Order of Mass

Special greeting for the season of Easter
Discouraging sprinkling rite during Lent
Thanksgiving over the water if already blessed (at Easter)
option to kneel during the penitential rite during Lent
Change of terminology for the penitential rite: "Admission of sinfulness" and "prayer for mercy"
Option for placement of the sign of peace
Optional orans gesture with Lord's Prayer

Approved: 189 affirmative votes, 54 negative votes

Appendix to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal

Incorporated USA adaptations: kneeling during the penitential rite, the orans gesture during the Lord's Prayer, Apostles' Creed, gesture of peace, clarifying notes on #26 the opening song, #56i communion song, materials for sacred vessels

Approved: 186 affirmative votes, 59 negative votes

Appendix to the General Introduction to the Calendar and Liturgical Year

Joining Maria de la Cabeza to the feastday with her husband Isidore the farmer on the USA particular calendar; USA legislation on days of precept, abrogating the obligation for August 15, November 1, and January 1 if they fall on Saturday or Monday, indult for transfer of the Ascension in some USA dioceses.
Approved: 221 affirmative votes, 25 negative votes

November 1995

De iure: 258 bishops; 2/3 majority = 172

Pastoral Introduction

Supplement to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
Approved: 199 affirmative votes, 28 negative votes

USA Adaptations to the Pastoral Introduction

Incorporates changes in Segment III approved in June 1995
Approved: 197 affirmative votes, 30 negative votes

SEGMENT IV: ORDER OF MASS II

Prefaces, Solemn Blessings, Prayer of the People, Sample General Intercessions
Translation of texts noted above
Approved: 182 affirmative votes, 39 negative votes

June 1996

De iure: 265 bishops 2/3 majority = 177

SEGMENT V: PROPER OF SAINTS

Approved: 209 affirmative votes, 36 negative votes
Biographies of the saints
184 affirmative votes, 21 negative votes
The Roman calendar
Approved: 189 affirmative votes, 15 negative votes

SEGMENT VI: THE LITURGICAL TEXTS FOR HOLY WEEK

Approved: 207 affirmative votes, 36 negative votes
The Pastoral Introductions to Holy Week
Approved 181 affirmative votes, 25 negative votes
The Antiphonal for Volume One
Approved: 209 affirmative votes, 34 negative votes
Other texts in Segment VI
Approved 180 affirmative votes, 27 negative votes
American Adaptations of the Pastoral Notes for Holy Week and Other Portions of Volume One
Approved: 211 affirmative votes, 31 negative votes
American Adaptations to the rubrics for Holy Week and Other Portions of Volume One
Approved: 212 affirmative votes, 25 negative votes
American Adaptations to the liturgical texts for Holy Week and Other Portions of Volume One
Approved: 183 affirmative votes, 18 negative votes

ML