Using the Ordo

The Ordo is the small book that gives information about each day’s liturgy. It covers everything from the options for the readings, the color of vestments, and which types of Mass may be permitted for the day. While looking at a page of the order can be intimidating at first, it is the greatest resource of the sacristan.

How to "Decode" the Ordo

The ordo employs a number of codes located in the front of the book to indicate what ought to be prepared for each liturgy.

Let’s take a look at a sample page and decode it to prepare for a daily Mass:

• On this page from the ordo for November, we can see that November 7 is a Wednesday of the 31st week in Ordinary Time (known as a ferial day).
• The vestment color (Gr) is green.
• The V indicates that a priest may celebrate a votive Mass for a particular need or occasion and the R indicates that the priest may celebrate a funeral Mass or a Requiem, a Mass for the dead.

On a ferial day, a priest may choose from any of the prayers in the Roman Missal. This means he can use any opening collect, any preface for the Eucharistic Prayer, and any post-communion collect. While he usually just uses the prayers from the prior Sunday (In this case, the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time) the ordo indicates wider permission and even suggests an option that correlates with the readings:  Sugg: 16 Sun; 21 Sun.

The readings for the Mass are also indicated, should the sacristan need to check the Lectionary before Mass to make sure it is correct:

• RDGS: 487 indicates the index number in the lectionary (usually in brackets [487] and not the page number) and thescripture verses: First Reading, Psalm, and Gospel.

Following the lectionary listing, there is a brief synopsis for the priest to make quick connections should he wish to preach a homily.

On Sundays, Feast Days and Memorials, the ordo can be a little more complicated. For Example, on Friday the 9th of November, we see that there is the observation of a Feast Day (F) THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA. The capital Letters and lack of italics, indicate that this is an obligatory feast – if the priest is celebrating Mass that day, he must observe this feast with all the proper (Prop) prayers for it.

Additionally, the Gloria (Gl) must be said as well as the preface for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (prop Pf) before the Eucharistic Prayer. The vestment color is (Wh) white. Following the scripture synopsis is a brief background of the feast (or saint) to be observed. This can aid the priest or deacon in preparing for a homily.