What is the General Instruction of the Roman Missal?
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal is the official document explaining the basic Catholic theology of Mass and offering a description of the way a community should use the rituals, gestures, and words found in the book to which it is attached (the Roman Missal or Sacramentary) to express that theological meaning. (“Sacramentary” is actually an older and better title for the book, since the book explained by the General Instruction contains just the texts, music, and instructions needed by a bishop or priest to celebrate Mass; a “missal” – a medieval book developed for Masses at which the priest was the only minister – actually contained all the texts to be used at Mass, including those now found in the Lectionary, the Book of the Gospels, and the music resources used by a community.) This document may be found in the front of the Sacramentary along with other important documents: the U.S. Appendix to the General Instruction, the Directory for Masses with Children, the General
