Liturgical Norms

A liturgical or canonical norm is some written item that imposes an obligation on a person, a group of persons, a parish, a diocese, or the whole Church.  It can take the form of a canon (see the Code of Canon Law), a statute (see the National Statutes for the Catechumenate), a rubric in a ritual book, or a larger document.

Norms may be issued by the Apostolic See (by the pope himself or by a congregation with his permission), by an Episcopal Conference (for example, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), by a provincial conference of bishops (for example, the Province of Chicago that includes the dioceses within Illinois), or even by the local diocesan bishop.

The liturgical norms in this section of the web site contain universal and local norms in force within the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest

Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest [SCAP] is a second edition ritual book created and approved in 2007 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. It may be used in an individual diocese only with the approval of the diocesan bishop. After a year and half of consultation and study, Bishop George Lucas approved in May 2009 this policy: “Using Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest in Situations When Sunday Mass Cannot Be Celebrated.” The following list of items provides not only the diocesan policy but also excepts from other papal and national documents helpful for parish preparation of ministers and catechesis of the faithful.