What happens to the "old" Sacramentary when the new Roman Missal "arrives" this weekend?

While we are certainly focusing our energies these days on the introduction of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal (coming to a church near you this weekend), a question that has been asked and worth answering, "What do we do with the Missal that's currently being used? (often referred to as the Sacramentary)

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the body tasked with coordinating the printing of the new Roman Missal, has provided guidelines to parishes for "decommissioning the Sacramentary".

When you stop and think of it, it's amazing to consider the literally tens of thousands of sacramental celebrations that have occurred utilizing the current Sacramentary. From baptisms to weddings, loved ones saying a final goodbye to those called home to God at funerals, confirmations, weekday Mass, Sunday celebrations, countless Holy Weeks, Christmas Eves, Christmas Morns and all things in between.

While the carpet may have reinvented itself numerous times, layers of paint have peeled and been reapplied, there's the faithful Sacramentary helping lead the way in our celebrations.

Tabs well worn, mightily lifted by countless altar servers and at times hiding its pages so Father needed to take an extra moment or two to find the right one, we'll miss the Sacramentary and the history it will take along with it. Almost a time capsule of sorts, it's fitting that we have a decommissioning ceremony to say one final goodbye.

Here's a recommended decommissioning, as provided by the CCCB:

De-commissioning the Sacramentary

1. After the Prayer after Communion, the Priest pauses for a moment of silence and then reminds the faithful of the many events this book has been a part of in these or similar words:

Dear Friends in Christ; today is the last (Sun)day in which this Sacramentary will be used. It has served our community well for many years: it has been present at baptisms, funerals, marriages, and above all at the countless Masses that have been prayed in this church. We pause to give thanks for all that God has done by means of the words contained in this book, and trust that God will continue to bless us in the years ahead.

(All pray silently for a time.)

Then the Priest, with hands outstretched says:

Father of light and wisdom,
We praise you for your gifts:
for giving us the power to see
and the ability to write and read
and to use the arts of printing.

Bless + this book as it is taken out of service
and grant that all who have used it or heard its words
may grow in wisdom and grace
before you and all your people.

Father, we praise you through Jesus Christ your Son
in the love of your Holy Spirit,
now and always and for ever.

All: Amen.

2. The Mass continues in the usual way with the Final Blessing. After the Dismissal, the Deacon, or in his absence the Priest closes the book for the final time, saying:

For everything there is a season.
At the closing of this book,
we look to the opening of a new season of grace.

3. The Sacramentary is carried out in the procession by a server or other appropriate minister.

4. The Sacramentary is then reserved in the sacristy, a parish library or museum, or disposed of in a dignified manner.

So there you have it. Now for those who may ask the bonus question, "What is disposed of in a dignified manner mean?" then we turn to a directive offered to dioceses in the United States earlier this year for some reflections:

Pertaining to disposal of the Sacramentary, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recommends that parishes:

Bury it in an appropriate location on church grounds or a parish cemetery (if there is one)

Bury it in the coffin of the deceased (perhaps a priests' funeral) if they had a specific love and devotion for the Liturgy.

Burn it, collect the ashes, and bury them in an appropriate location on church grounds.

Keep a copy for parish archives.

In these final days, let us give thanks for the blessings that have come with sacramentaries throughout North America that will soon be retired. For those attending daily Mass, the countdown on your final "and also with you" continues for the next few days as it too, will be "retired" after many years of dedicated service.