Rev. Fr. David Okolie
Dearest brothers in the vineyard, among the things we should always consider as great treasures are the following:
1. General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GI).
2. The Annual Liturgical Calendar (Ordo).
3. Your own Diocesan Directory.
1. Concerning the โGeneral Instruction of the Roman Missal’ (GI), I must thank, in a very special way, the present Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Most Rev. Prof. Augustine Echema,ย who was our Liturgy Professor then in Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Owerri. He
introduced the term โGIโ to us and encouraged us to, at least, look for that โAnimal called GI and try to touch it’. A good number of us looked for the โanimal,’ found it, touched it and then bought it. I found mine in St. Paul’s (Pauline) Bookstore, Enugu, Nigeria. When I found it, I smiled. Honestly, I have learnt a lot since I purchased it and I am still learning from it. Among the many things that I have learnt is when a concelebrating priest should JOIN his hands; together with the principal celebrant and when he should EXTEND his hands, when he should join his voice (in low tone) with that of the principal celebrant and when he should keep quiet entirely. Again, there is this serious โLITURGICAL CONFUSION‘ that I have seen, at least, two priests commit of which the correct thing to be done is contained in the GI. I will share the gist with you in another post. Please, do expect that post.
Well, dearest brothers, just pick one GIย for yourself today and you would certainly smile.
2. As a young senior seminarian in philosophy two, I overheard a fellow seminarian saying that he normally bought the Liturgical Calendar (Ordo) every year. Hmmm. I wondered why he should be doing that. Later, in my quiet moment, I thought that it would be good doing same. Then, the โordo’ was sold at about โฆ400 – โฆ500. I began the practice and eventually saw that it is indeed a TREASURE that every seminarian and priest should always have. Among other benefits, it helps to predispose you for liturgical celebrations โ the correct readings, liturgical colours, upcoming solemnities, feasts and memorials, Anniversaries of Church hierarchies, etc. In a word, it is a guide to stress-free liturgical celebrations. Just imagine the scene you would create, when, for example, as a seminarian on Apostolic work, you gave the wrong readings to the lay readers. Or as a priest, you attended a Diocesan liturgical function with the wrong colour of the vestment.
3. What the ordo does is similar to what the Diocesan Directoryย does. The little difference is that, while the ordo takes care of the Church at the National level, the Diocesan directory takes care of a particular Diocese and the internal celebrations, etc.
๐๐ผFinally, dearest brothers, as we gradually approach the New Liturgical Year, it would be wonderful if we all would resolve to acquire these TREASURES and always look into their contents for effective liturgical celebrations. The Lay Faithfulย can also be encouraged to buy the above to enable them know the readings at Liturgical celebrations ahead of time. Please, check any Catholic Bookstore for them๐๐ผ
Remain blessed๐๐ผ
