Have you heard about the GIRM? No, I have not made a spelling error. The GIRM is not a disease either! GIRM stands for the General Instruction on the Roman Missal. The GIRM provides the Church with the information on how to celebrate Mass. As you likely know, there have not been many changes in the way we celebrate Mass since the changes after Vatican II.

Over the past few years, we have been gradually adapting a few changes that are part of the new GIRM. The final English version of this document has been approved and has been implemented in parishes. For the most part, there have been no earth shattering changes.

There are some things that Roman Catholics should remember:

Sign of Reverence before receiving communion. Since the time of Vatican II, this has been a part of the general instruction but likely it has never really been emphasized. Essentially, the revised GIRM also asks the faithful to show a sign of reverence before they receive communion just as the former document did. The purpose is to create an attitude of worship by those who are to receive the Eucharistic presence of our Lord.

In order to have less confusion on what type of gesture is appropriate, the American bishops agreed that the best way to do this is for persons to bow before receiving the Eucharist. This bow is best done before the person is standing before the minister of the Eucharist, so as not to have an excessive delay.

Standing, kneeling or sitting after Receiving Communion - which one? The new GIRM, again like the old, suggests a preference for a unified posture by the entire assembly during the liturgy.

Gluten Intolerance or Celiac Disease. Some people suffer from a disease that makes them unable to ingest wheat. Persons with this condition are unable to receive the host. As has been the custom for some time, persons with this condition are encouraged to receive only from the chalice.

Receiving Communion in the hand - how best to do it? Most folks have this one down fairly well. However, a word or two on this may be helpful to some in the congregation. As a basic rule, when approaching to receive Communion on the hand, it is preferred that one receives the Eucharist in the palm of one hand with the other hand placed underneath. If you are right-handed, use your left hand to receive the host, consuming it with your right hand. If you are left-handed, do the opposite. Use your right hand to receive and your left hand to consume.

For Roman Catholics, nothing is more important than the Mass. It is the heart and soul of our worship of God. It is the celebration that gives us the strength we need to live a Christian life. We will become what we worship. May that be Jesus Christ.

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