Liberal Rite

The Liberal Rite is the most widely used liturgical rite found within the Liberal Catholic movement. It is also the primary liturgical rite used by various denominations within the greater Liberal Catholic movement. It is slso known as the Mystical Mass and the Wedgwood/Leadbeater Mass. Like other liturgical rites, the Liberal Rite has grown and evolved over the past century.

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Development

The Liberal Rite was composed by Bishop James I. Wedgwood, with Bishop C.W. Leadbeater assisting on the collects, psalms, canticles, and readings.

In explaining how the Liberal Rite was developed, Bishop Wedgwood states:[1]

"We set to work to eliminate the many features which from our point of view disfigure and weaken the older liturgies. References to fear of God, to His wrath and to everlasting damnation were taken out, also the constant insistence on the sinfulness and worthlessness of man and the frequent appeals for mercy. The services were made as clear and free from repetition in their structural sequence as possible. And every opportunity was given to the congregation to join in the worship with all the resources of mind and will and emotion and self-dedication they were able to command. The sentiments put into the mouth of the worshiper are such as those who are filled with the spirit of devotion and service can honestly and sincerely utter.... It stresses the idea of co-operation with the Divine Father rather than that of supplication, and being outward-turned in the service of God and His world soon enables a man to realize something of the boundless resources of his own being. They are his by right and not simply by grace."

Publication
LCC Liturgy Books 1st through 5th editions.

A total of five editions of the Rite exist today.

  • 1917 - Private printing booklet with the Liturgy of the Holy Mass (18 pgs).
  • 1918 - Two booklets containing the Liturgy of the Mass, a Form for the Administration of Holy Communion, Form for the Communion of the Sick, the Order of Vespers and the Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament.
  • 1919 - The Liturgy was first published in its entirety. - Authorized by Bp. Wedgwood. Reprinted by St. Alban Press, San Diego, CA.
  • 1924 - 2nd edition published. - Authorized by Bp. Leadbeater
  • 1942 - 3rd edition published. - Authorized by Bp. Pigott
    • 1961 - 3rd edition published in Spanish (Partial). - Authorized by Bp. Vreede under Bp. Ballesteros
      • 1987 - 3rd edition reprint by the LCCI. - Authorized by Bp. Neth
      • 2002 - 3rd edition reprint by the LCCI. - Authorized by Bp. Finn
      • 2010 - 3rd edition published in Spanish(Complete). - Authorized by Bp. Bekken
      • 2017 - 3rd edition reprinted by the St. Alban Press. - Authorized by Bp. Bekken.[2]
  • 1967 - 4th edition published by the LCC (old synod). - Authorized by Bp. Sykes
  • 1983 - 5th edition published by the LCC (old synod). - Authorized by Bp. Von Krusenstierna

In 2004 the GES of the LCC (new synod) announced that they would issue a new 6th edition of the Liturgy which would "introduce invocations to Our Lady at the Ordination...of the Holy Orders", and introduce gender inclusive language. Also to be changed will be an invocation to Our Lady at the Healing Service, and the Shorter Form of the Eucharist will be taken from the 1967 edition.[3]

See also

References
  1. Beginnings of the Liberal Catholic Church, 1937
  2. Catalog of St. Alban Press, San Diego, CA
  3. The Newsletter of the Liberal Catholic Church in the United States of America, Summer 2004 p.3

Further reading
  • The Liturgy of the Liberal Catholic Rite, 3rd Ed. (2002 reprint) The St. Alban Press, 741 Cerro Gordo Ave. San Diego, CA 92102.
  • Cooper, Irving S. Ceremonies of the Liberal Catholic Rite. (2008)
  • Leadbeater, C.W. The Science of the Sacraments.
  • Msgr. T.J. Howard ed. The Collected Works of James I. Wedgwood
  • Sanderson, Jason & Wynn Wagner eds. Book of Prayers, (2005).
  • Van Alphen, M.F. (2010). The Pillars of the Temple. Inspiration Press.
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