What does the Priest do? What is his role at Mass? (GIRM 93). A Priest, also, who possesses within the Church the sacred power of Orders to offer sacrifice in the person of Christ, presides by this fact over the faithful people gathered here and now, presides over their prayer, proclaims to them the message of salvation, associates the people with himself in the offering of sacrifice through Christ in the Holy Spirit to God the Father, and gives his brothers and sisters the Bread of eternal life and partakes of it with them. Therefore, when he celebrates the Eucharist, he must serve God and the people with dignity and humility, and by his bearing and by the way he pronounces the divine words he must convey to the faithful the living presence of Christ.

How can we best see Christ in the Priest? At Mass, what is important is not that we see Fr. ________, but that we see Christ. The dignity, humility, bearing and words help us to better see Christ.

Can the Priest add, remove or change anything in the celebration of Mass? (GIRM 24) The Priest will remember that he is the servant of the Sacred Liturgy and that he himself is not permitted, on his own initiative, to add, to remove, or to change anything in the celebration of Mass.

Of the Mass, what is the most important parts for the Priest? (GIRM 30) Among those things assigned to the Priest, the prime place is occupied by the Eucharistic Prayer, which is the high point of the whole celebration. Next are the orations, that is to say, the Collect, the Prayer over the Offerings, and the Prayer after Communion. These prayers are addressed to God by the Priest who presides over the assembly in the person of Christ, in the name of the entire holy people and of all present. Hence they are rightly called the “presidential prayers.” (GRIM 32) The nature of the “presidential” parts requires that they be spoken in a loud and clear voice and that everyone listen to them attentively. Therefore, while the Priest is pronouncing them, there should be no other prayers or singing, and the organ or other musical instruments should be silent.

Where is the Priest allowed to adapt or teach? (GIRM 31)Where this is laid down by the rubrics, the celebrant is permitted to adapt them somewhat so that they correspond to the capacity for understanding of those participating. However, the Priest should always take care to keep to the sense of the explanatory text given in the Missal and to express it in just a few words. It is also for the presiding Priest to regulate the Word of God and to impart the final blessing.

When is the Priest allowed to “add” or “instruct” in his own words? He is permitted, furthermore,in a very few words, to give the faithful an introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Penitential Act), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings), and to the Eucharistic Prayer (before the Preface), though never during the Eucharistic Prayer itself; he may also make concluding comments regarding the entire sacred action before the Dismissal.

Why is the Priest instructed to do this “in just a few words”?

Should the Priest face the people at Mass? There are six times within the Mass that the Priest must face the people.  The six times are:

When giving the opening greeting (GIRM 124);
When giving the invitation to pray, "Orate, fratres" (GIRM 146);
When giving the greeting of peace, "Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum" (GIRM 154);
When displaying the consecrated Host (or Host and Chalice) before Communion and saying: "Ecce Agnus Dei" (GIRM 157);When inviting to pray ("Oremus") before the postcommunion prayer (GIRM 165);
When giving the final blessing (Ordo Missae 141).

The GIRM allows the Priest to face the people at anytime. (GIRM 299). The altar should be built separate from the wall, in such a way that it is possible to walk around it easily and that Mass can be celebrated at it facing the people, which is desirable wherever possible.

Why is “facing the people” “desirable wherever possible”?

Why is not facing the people permissible?

Does the Priest have the “final say” when it comes to Mass? (GIRM 111) There should be harmony and diligence among all those involved in the effective preparation of each liturgical celebration in accordance with the Missal and other liturgical books, both as regards the rites and as regards the pastoral and musical aspects. This should take place under the direction of the rector of the church and after consultation with the faithful in things that directly pertain to them. However, the Priest who presides at the celebration always retains the right of arranging those things that pertain to him.

Where should the Priest be at Mass? (GIRM 294) The Priest Celebrant, the Deacon, and the other ministers have places in the sanctuary. There, also, should be prepared seats for concelebrants, but if their number is great, seats should be arranged in another part of the church, though near the altar.