APCOM

The Ambrosian rite is going to change. Milan Archbishop Dionigi Tettamanzi, announced yesterday, during the Celebration of the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral of Milan that, from the next religious season of Advent, Milanese Masses will be celebrated with a rite which is unique in the world.

In fact, the New Ambrosian Lectionary will come into act: Ambrosian dioceses will have different readings and different bible texts from the rest of the catholic churches. The New Lectionary is divided into three parts (of the mystery, Mystery of Easter, Mystery of Pentecost). In addition to the Sunday Lectionary a special Lectionary for Saturdays was also introduced, organized into two years.

Milanese dioceses, in fact, chose to emphasize Saturday's celebration: "Once the Saturday Mass seemed to be a concession to all those faithful that couldn't attend Sunday celebration", said Tettamanzi. "But Saturday is the day of Christ's resurrection, and it has to be celebrated in a full way". Ambrosian Saturday will also be a moment of vicinity with the Jewish community, to give a dignity to the celebration of the Sabbath. In Milan the Saturday morning Mass will always contain a reading from the Pentateuco bible book, just like what happens in Jewish Synagogues.

"With these changes - commented Monsignor Claudio Magnoli, secretary of Ambrosian rite Congregation - the tradition started by Saint Ambrogio has been recuperated. The reformation which was obtained last Sunday, brings the approbation by Vatican's Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Congregation".