The Introduction to Ministers in Masses (MIM) outlining the author's objectives in this discussion of rubrics for Masses based on the 2000 General Instruction to the Roman Missal.

Introduction

1. On December 4, 1963 His Holiness Pope Paul VI promulgated Sacrosanctum Concilium - The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. It was the first document of the Second Vatican Council. Its first paragraph stated:

This sacred Council has several aims in view:

it desires to impart an ever increasing vigor to the Christian life of the faithful;

to adapt more suitably to the needs of our own times those institutions which are subject to change;

to foster whatever can promote union among all who believe in Christ;

to strengthen whatever can help to call the whole of mankind into the household of the Church.

The Council therefore sees particularly cogent reasons for undertaking the reform and promotion of the liturgy.

2. Challenges for the Church are presented, and particular prominence is given to the liturgy as the means of addressing them.

3. In Sacrosanctum Concilium, n 21, it was written that the new texts should, as far as possible, be understood with ease by the Christian people.

4. In n. 29 it states "Servers, readers, commentators and members of the choir ... must be trained to perform their functions in a correct and orderly manner."

5. Paragraph 31 is one of the shortest in Sacrosanctum Concilium : "The revision of the liturgical books must carefully attend to the provision of rubrics also for the people's parts."

6. It is hoped that this document will contribute to these elements of the liturgical reform. In particular it aims to provide a description of:

- The instructions from the liturgical books for lay ministers in the Mass.

- Some options for implementing the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal. This focuses on the roles of bishops and Conferences of Bishops in regulating lay ministers.

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