What is Liturgical Abuse?

Liturgical abuse refers to an alteration, omission, or addition to the prescribed liturgical norms that compromises the integrity, reverence, or proper conduct of the Church’s rites. It is stated that "no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority" (SC 22,3). As the "summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed" (SC 10), it is essential that the Liturgy be treated with dignity and respect of its integrity, such that the life of the Church is not disrupted.

What is Not Liturgical Abuse?

Not every deviation is a liturgical abuse. As the Church teaches, "provisions shall also be made, when revising the liturgical books, for legitimate variations and adaptations to different groups, regions, and peoples" (SC 38). For example, "other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action" (SC 116). Personal preferences are NOT liturgical abuses.