The USCCB’s Committee on Divine Worship has recently published a list of ritual books that are currently approved for liturgical use in the United States and given updates on several forthcoming texts. A number of these resources have been newly translated and published in recent years. Parishes may want to use the following list and notes from the USCCB to ensure that all liturgical books in sacristies and in use are up to date:
The dates in italics refer to the current Latin editiones typicæ. Years in (parentheses) refer to earlier U.S. editions, and years in bold refer to the current U.S. English edition.
For the Eucharist
• Roman Missal 2008 (1974; 1985) 2011
• Excerpts from the Roman Missal (“Book of the Chair”) 2018
• Lectionary for Mass 1981 (1970) 1998/2002
• Lectionary for Mass Supplement 2017
• Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1987 (1992) 2012
• Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest (1988; 2007) 2012
• Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children 2002 (1985) 2011
• Lectionary for Masses with Children 1993
For the other sacraments and sacramentals
• Roman Pontifical (1978) 2012
o Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests, and of Deacons 1989 (1978; 2003; 2012) 2021
o Order of Confirmation 2003 (1978; 2012) 2015
o Order of the Blessing of Oils and the Consecration of Chrism 1971 (1985; 2012) 2019
o Order of the Dedication of a Church and an Altar 1977 (1989) 2018
o Order of Blessing of Abbots and Abbesses 2010 (1978) 2012
o Order of the Consecration of Virgins 1970 (1978) 2012
o Institution of Lectors and Acolytes 1972 (1978) 2012
o Institution of Catechists 2021
• Roman Ritual
o Order of Baptism of Children 2003 (1970) 2020
o Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 1972 (1974) 1988
o Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass 1974; 1976
o Order of Celebrating Matrimony 2008 (1970) 2016
o Order of Penance 1974 (1975; 2010) 2023
o Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum 1972 (1974) 1983
o Book of Blessings 1994; 1989
o Order of Christian Funerals 1969 (1971) 1989
o Rite of Religious Profession 1970; 1989
o Exorcisms and Related Supplications 2005; 2017
Other liturgical books
• Roman Martyrology 2004
• Ceremonial of Bishops 2008; 1989
• Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1981; 1987
• Liturgy of the Hours 2000; 1975/1976
Conference-approved texts containing excerpts of ritual books
• Order for the Solemn Exposition of the Holy Eucharist 1993
• Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers (1988; 2007) 2020
• Blessing on the Fifteenth Birthday (bilingual) 2008
• Blessing of a Child in the Womb (bilingual) 2012
As of April 2022, two English ritual books approved by the USCCB were awaiting confirmation from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments – the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery Outside Mass. An updated translation of the Order of the Anointing of the Sick and of Their Pastoral Care has been completed by ICEL and should come to the bishops for vote soon. New English translations are also in process for the following rites: the Blessing of Abbots and Abbesses, Religious Profession, Consecration of Virgins, Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Roman Martyrology.
Ritual books in Spanish
• Misal Romano 2008; 2018
• Celebraciones dominicales en ausencia de presbítero (bilingual) 2007
• Ritual para el Bautismo de los niños 2003; 2009
• Rito de la Iniciación cristiana de adultos 1972; 1993
• Ritual del Matrimonio 2008; 2010
• Ritual de exequias cristianas 1969; 2002
• Bendición al cumplir quince años (bilingual) 2008
• Bendición de una criatura en el vientre materno (bilingual) 2012
Six Spanish-language liturgical books and two fascicles have been confirmed for liturgical use in the United States. In addition, three books in Spanish are pending: the Bendicional and revised Ritual de la Iniciación cristiana de adultos are awaiting confirmation by the Holy See, and a new translation of the Ritual de la Unción de los enfermos y de su atención pastoral is anticipated for a vote in the near future.
For other rites that do not have a confirmed U.S. Spanish edition – for example, the Leccionario, rituals for Penance, Ordination, etc. – any Spanish translation lawfully approved by another Conference of Bishops may be used. Ritual books from Mexico tend to be the most popular in this country, and many of them are available through Liturgical Press or from the Mexican publishing house Buena Prensa.