Advent 2011
Roman Missal voted top news story of 2011; Pope Benedict top newsmaker
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You may launch Catholic TV Jr. by clicking on the player. It has been customized to view the new original CatholicTV Network series The New and Eternal Word, Monsignor James P. Moroney explores how the Church celebrates the Holy Mass in our day. In particular, he examines how a new Missale Romanum and a new English translation of these prayers can draw us more deeply into the words and rites of the Mass. The player has also been customized with video from the “Preparing for the New Roman Missal” symposium for priests held at Saint John’s Seminary. This workshop for priests was designed to provide an understanding of the origins of the third edition of the Missale Romanum and the translation principles and process followed for its completion.
Praying the Mass Anew written by Fr. Joel Hastings, of the Office of Liturgy of the Diocese of Duluth in Minnesota, is a catechetical insert series to be utilized for implementation of the new translation of the Roman Missal. The parish wishes to thank Fr. Hastings and the Diocese of Duluth for sharing this series resource with the Diocese of Fall River. You may download each insert below individually.
Part I: Overview of the Liturgy and the Roman Missal
Insert 1: Introduction: Welcoming the New Versions of the Prayers of the Mass.
Insert 2: Who translates the prayers?
Insert 3: Our Words of Prayer Increase Our Love of God.
Insert 4: Body Language: The Connection of Words and Actions at Mass.
Insert 5: Praying According to the Words Requires Listening Well.
Special Insert: Easter Sunday
Insert 6: Sacred Silence.
Insert 7: To Sing at Mass or to Sing the Mass?
Insert 8: Introducing the Mass.
Insert 9: Preparing to Offer Mass: The “Penitential Act.”
Part II: The Prayer Texts of the Mass
Insert 10: “And with your spirit”: the new response
Insert 11: Glory to God in the Highest
Insert 12: The “Opening Prayer” and other prayers of the celebrant
Insert 13: The Readings
Insert 14: Professing our Faith
Insert 15: The Prayer of the Faithful and the Offering of the Gifts
Insert 16: The Eucharistic Prayer: Part I
Insert 17: The Eucharistic Prayer: Part II
Insert 18: The Eucharistic Prayer: Part III
Insert 19: The Lord’s Prayer and Sign of Peace
Insert 20: The Lamb of God and Holy Communion
Insert 21: Concluding Rites – Going Forth
Insert 22: The Day has Arrived: We Pray the Mass Anew
Special Insert: Christmas
RECORDINGS OF PREFACES IN THE NEW ROMAN MISSAL
Recordings of twenty-eight prefaces in the new Roman Missal are now available for listening and free download at the NPM website. Here you will find sung prefaces for celebrations occurring between the First Sunday of Advent on November 27 and the beginning of Lent in late February. The location of prefaces on the NPM website follows the order in which they appear in the Missal. Look for recordings on the web pages marked Proper of Time, Prefaces in the Order of Mass, Proper of Saints, Ritual Masses, and Various Needs and Occasions.
ADVENT 2011
We are quickly reaching the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. History has shown that there is always a period of adjusting after any Council. In the past because of lack of communication that adjustment period could take many centuries. Today, because of rapid communication, we find that the adjustment period for this Council is brief.
One of the adjustments that will be implemented in Advent 2011 is a new translation of some of the prayers in the Mass. The present translation that we use in the English Masses presents a very basic translation of the Latin. What happened was that some of the biblical and poetic imagery in the prayers was lost. In the new translation the richness of the prayers is restored.
We will see changes in the parts of the Mass that the people recite and sing. New music is being composed to fit these new translations.
Because English is the most widely used language in the world, the Church will focus attention on implementing these changes only in English. The other language groups will be undertaking this project in the future.
It will take time to adjust to these new prayers and hymns. It is hoped that the people will benefit more from the Mass.
During this Church year of 2010, we hope to continue to give explanations about these changes. It will also provide an opportunity to explain the Mass for the people to appreciate the Mass.
THE LITURGY IS THE CENTER OF CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN LIVING
At the Second Vatican Council the language of the Mass was changed to the language of the people so that the people could participate more fully. As the Council teaches, each person in the Church has a role to play in the Mass because of the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. The people at Mass celebrate this sacrificial meal with the priest. Each person has a part.
The Council and those responsible for the Mass being translated into English tried to use the language that was spoken by the people so that it could be more understandable. For the last forty years this has been the language that was used.
Now the Mass translations in English are being evaluated. It is seen that the prayers have been watered down to keep with the conversational language of the people. The images from the Bible and from the early writings of the Church have been lost.
Beginning in Advent 2011, a new translation in English will be used to incorporate these images and scriptural phrases. Although the common language of the English will be reduced, nevertheless a more rich and deep content of the prayers will allow the people to worship God more deeply. It is hoped that Catholics will understand more deeply that the Word of God is present not only in the readings but also in all the parts of the Mass.
This new translation will change the responses of the people and the music that is sung. This is going to take time for the people to adjust. Change is not easy. Hopefully, the preparation time before Advent of 2011 will allow Catholics to learn more about the Mass and its importance in daily living.
These changes are only happening in English. Since English is the most used language in the world, the Church decided to implement these changes in English for the first step. All the English speaking countries of the world will have the same translation. Eventually, the other languages of the Church will also implement these changes.
Throughout the centuries the Church has always changed the Mass to bring out its beauty and strength. We are going through these changes. We are not reading about it in a Church history book. That is the difference. May this difference change our Catholic Christian lives by making the Mass more of the center of our Faith.
MASS CHANGES STARTING ADVENT 2011
On the First Sunday of Advent 2011 new changes in the prayers of the Mass will be implemented. Advent 2011 will begin the changes in the English prayers of the Mass. The Vatican has conducted a study to make all the English prayers the same in all of the English speaking countries.
One of the most familiar responses will change from “And also with you” to “and with your spirit”. This response is given to the greeting “The Lord be with you”.
The emphasis of the word “spirit” in the changed response teaches us about the different roles that we have in the Mass.
The “spirit” of the Sacrament of Holy Orders which the priest is exercising at Mass is a very unique role. He is the presider of the celebration. His role is to preach the Word of God. His role is to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.
The “spirit” of the laity at Mass is also a unique role. The laity are called to participate in the Mass through the prayers and song. Many of the laity have unique roles in the Mass: lector, Eucharistic minister, collector, binging the gifts to the altar, leader of song, choir, etc.
The most important part of the Mass for both priest and laity is to offer their “spirit” in worship to God. It is to live “the spirit” of the Mass when they leave the gathered assembly.
The “spirit” of the both the priest and laity is to be more “church” because of the Eucharistic celebration.
As we have been talking about the changes in the wording of the prayers at Mass beginning during Advent of 2011, I thought that I would like to introduce one of those changes now.
The very well known acclamation after the Consecration: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again” will be eliminated. One of the new acclamations will be “Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the savior of the world”.
I have asked Phil Pereira that he begin singing this acclamation at the English Masses so that we can get used to the new music and new words.
The acclamation helps us to understand why we call the Mass “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass”. Jesus died on the cross only once. This is clearly explained in the Letters of St. Paul. In the Mass Jesus does not die again. He is risen.
The Mass makes present the death and resurrection of Jesus. Although the death and resurrection of Jesus took place in Jerusalem on a certain day and time, nevertheless, it is an eternal event.
The Mass through the power of the Holy Spirit makes present this event in our time and place. It is for us to “touch and taste” this event.
This making present of the death and resurrection is for us to appreciate that this was done for each and every one of us as though we were the only person receiving this great salvation.
The acclamation says: “…You have set us free…” It is Jesus’ death and resurrection that has given us our freedom from sin. We have been freed. Now we need to apply it to our lives. We come to Mass each Sunday so that we can gradually let this salvation take over our lives.
New Phrases in the Creed
I confess to almighty God
The new translation of this option for the Penitential Rite is more faithful to the Latin text. It helps to cultivate a more humble and sorrowful attitude toward God as we confess our sins. Instead of saying that I have sinned “through my fault” as we have in the old translation, we will now repeat it three times while striking our breasts in a sign of repentance, saying “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”.
This repetition more fully shows our sorrow. When we have sinned against someone we very often repeat words such as “I am really sorry”.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will
New music to the Gloria will be provided so that this prayer in the Mass can be sung. “The Glory to God in the highest” will be changed. It is the custom in our parish to sing this prayer on special occasions. It is the custom to sing the refrain while the choir sings the other words. The new wording will be “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will.” These words capture the song of the angels to the shepherds at the first Christmas. Because God became one like us in all things but sin, his birth gives peace to all people who desire it.
The Bishops of our country are allowing the sung parts of the Mass to be used before the first Sunday of Advent. We will be introducing the sung refrain of the Gloria on the first weekend of September. It is hoped that the parishioners will become comfortable with this new refrain so that it can be used in the Christmas season. Because the Gloria is not sung during the Advent season, this time before Advent will be a good time to learn the refrain.
In the new translation Jesus is addressed as the “only begotten Son”. This phrase has been used in the Church since the beginning to express how Jesus shares the same divinity as the Father. This is also the same as the biblical image of Saint John’s Gospel which uses almost the same wording to express the unique relationship that Jesus has with the Father. Although we are all called to share in special relationship to the Father through grace, nevertheless we are also called to see that Jesus’ relationship to the Father is unique.
I believe in one God
There are several changes that will be made to the Creed in Mass. We now say “we believe in one God”. It will be changed to “I believe in one God”. We will be more faithful to the Latin text of this Creed. The other language groups also use the singular. The singular “I” makes the creed more personal and encourages the person to live out the creed each day. “I believe” expresses the faith of the Church that is professed by the entire Church.
Was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
“Was born of the Virgin Mary” will be “Was incarnate of the Virgin Mary.”
Another important theological term is now kept in the new translation of the Creed about the unique conception of Jesus. The Latin text uses the word “incarnates” (“incarnate”). This word teaches that Jesus took on our human nature so that he could save us. He took on our flesh. The Gospel of John says, “The Word became flesh”. This new translation describes more accurately that Jesus did take on our flesh.
Holy, Holy, Holy
The opening line of this hymn is not from a hymn book. It is from the Old Testament Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah had a vision of heaven. In that vision he heard the angels singing the song that we sing at Mass: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord…”
When we sing this song at Mass, we are joining the angels in heaven in praising God. Heaven comes down and is part of our celebration.
The previous translation referred to the Lord as “God of power and might”. In the new translation we address God as “Lord God of hosts”. This more clearly presents the images of the Prophet Isaiah. It shows the infinite power of God. All things in heaven and earth belong to God. “Hosts” refers to the angels.
In the English language we have the superlative form of a word. For example, the superlative form of the word holy is most holy.
In the Hebrew language there is no superlative form. That is why the word “Holy” is recited three times to address God as most holy.
Questions & Answers
Is the Mass changing?
The essence of the Mass is not changing, but the way it is celebrated will be noticeably different. While the structure and order of the Mass will remain the same, many of the prayers and responses in the Mass have been newly translated into English from the original Latin text. The most significant change people will notice is the new translation of the actual words of the Mass.
How significant will the changes in the Mass parts be?
The new translation will bring about the most significant change in the way most English speaking Catholics participate in the Mass since the years following the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), when the liturgical texts were translated into English and officially used in worship for the first time. When the new translation begins on the First Sunday of Advent in November 2011, we will see how almost all of the prayers will for the most part stay the same, but the change in wording at many points throughout the Mass will be quite noticeable. For a time, most Catholics will no longer be able to walk into church on Sunday and automatically recite the Gloria, Creed, Lamb of God, and Holy Holy by memory. They will need a guide to help them become accustomed to the new translation of these prayers.
Why do we need a new translation?
When the Vatican Council allowed for the use of the language of each country in the Mass, various groups worked quickly to develop an English translation to be used for the first time in the Mass. The English Missal was published in 1973. The approach to the translation used aimed at communicating the general sense of the Latin text of the Mass rather than providing a literal translation or word for word translation. After celebrating the Mass for forty years in English, the Church has seen that the English can be improved.
Some people have observed that some of the biblical images that the Latin text offered were dropped because the literal translation of the Latin text was not followed.
Important theological concepts were not always clear. Several biblical allusions did not shine out as clearly as they could. For example: The present translation of the prayer before receiving communion is: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. Only say the word and I shall be healed”. These words refer to the Gospel story of the centurion. The new translation will make the connection more clear; “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof….”
So the Mass we celebrate in English is a translation from the Latin?
Yes. In the Roman rite of the Church, the Mass was celebrated in Latin for centuries. The official Latin text of the Mass is contained in a book known as the Roman Missal. This is the foundational text from which the world bishops translate into local languages.
Who is responsible for making the English translation of the Mass?
The work of the translation was done by several groups. The bishops of the English speaking countries formed a commission approved by the Vatican called International Commission on English in the liturgy (ICEL) to prepare preliminary translations of the Mass from Latin to English. These translations are then reviewed, modified, and approved by each country’s conference of bishops. Then they are sent to Rome for final approval by the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Vatican office that oversees all matters concerning the celebration of the liturgy. The Congregation is assisted by a subcommittee of bishops and consultants from the English-speaking world known as Vox Clara (Clear Voice).
What are some of the changes made to the prayers of the Mass?
In the beginning of the Mass everyone will notice that the response “And also with you” to the greeting “The Lord be with you” will be changed to “and with your spirit”. These words better reflect the biblical images of Saint Paul in his letters. It also reflects the work of the Holy Spirit working through the priest in the celebration of Mass. The meaning of the response has a deeper meaning. At ordination the Holy Spirit comes upon the priest in a special way to empower him to change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. By responding with the words “and with your spirit”, we are acknowledging that fact. It is Jesus Christ who is the head of the gathered community. It is his Spirit that is the primary actor in the liturgy regardless of who the priest may be.
People will also notice a change in the beginning of the Nicene Creed. Presently we say “We believe in one God”. It will be changed to “I believe in one God”. This is to emphasize the personal expression each one’s faith. It is also a more faithful translation of the Latin text.
Will these changes affect the sung parts of the Mass?
Yes. Liturgical music publishers are writing new settings for the Holy and Gloria that will contain new words.
What are some of the benefits of the new translation?
The present translation does not bring out the biblical images. The new translation brings them out more clearly.
- The new translation preserves the terms that help us understand who Jesus is.
- The new translation includes an English that is higher that conversational English. This helps us to have more of a reverence in the Mass.
- There is an old Latin phrase: The way we pray is the way we believe. The quality of the prayers will be uplifted and will help us in our belief of the Faith.
- The words of the Mass express the wonder and majesty of God which will help us in our relationship with God.
As we use these coming months to prepare the people for the new responses, it gives us an opportunity to learn about the meaning of the Mass in our daily lives. The prayers that the priest will use will have new words and phrases which will hopefully help us to enter into the spirit of the Mass more fully.
ADVENTO 2011
Estamos quase a celebrar o quinquagésimo aniversário (50 anos) do Concílio Vatição II. A História mostra que há sempre um preríodo de ajustamento após os Concílios. Hoje em dia, devido aos rápidos meios de comunicação, podemos dizer que o período de ajustamento para este Concílio é curto.
Um dos ajustes a ser cumprido no Advento de 2011 é a nova tradução de algumas orações da Missa. A tradução actual, que é usada nas Missas Inglesas, é uma tradução do Latim muito básica, o que fez com que se perdesse alguma das imagens poéticas e bíblicas. Na nova tradução será recuperada a riqueza dessas orações.
Ver-se-á também alterações em algumas partes da Missa, que os fiéis recitam e cantam. Está a ser composta música nova que melhor se adapte às novas traduções.
Como o Inglês é a língua mais usada no mundo, a Igreja irá concentrar a sua atenção em implementar as mudanças apenas na língua Inglesa. Haverá nos outros grupos linguísticos quem tome a seu cargo esse projecto no futuro.
Vai levar algum tempo para nos habituarmos a esses novos hinos e orações. O que se espera é que as pessoas beneficiem mais da Missa.
Durante este ano litúrgico de 2010, continuaremos a dar mais explicações sobre essas mudanças, o que nos proporcionará uma oportunidade de explicar a Missa para que seja mais apreciada por todos.
A LITURGIA É O CENTRO DA VIVÊNCIA CATÓLICA CRISTÃ
No Concílio Vaticano II mudou-se a linguagem da Missa para uma linguagem mais acessível ao povo, para que houvesse maior participação. Como ensina o Concílio, na Igreja cada pessoa tem um papel a desempenhar na Missa por causa dos Sacramentos do Batismo, Eucaristia e Confirmação. Durante a Missa as pessoas celebram, juntamente com o sacerdote, a refeição sacrifical. Cada pessoa tem a sua parte. O Concílio e os responsáveis pela tradução da Missa para a língua Inglesa, usaram a linguagem falada pelo povo para que fosse mais facilmente compreendida. Nos últimos 40 anos tem sido essa a linguagem usada. Presentemente, essas traduções estão a ser revistas, porque se chegou à conclusão de que algumas orações foram simplificadas a fim de se manter uma linguagem comparável ao nível da conversação do povo, o que fez com que se perdesse algumas imagens, tanto da Bíblia como dos primeiros documentos escritos da Igreja.
Para o Advento do ano 2011 dar-se-á início a uma nova tradução do Inglês para se incorporar aquelas imagens e frases da Escritura. Embora fique reduzuda a linguagem mais comum, o conteúdo das orações ficará mais rico e profundo, permitindo que haja por parte das pessoas um culto a Deus mais digno e profundo. Espera-se que os Católicos compreendam melhor que a Palavra de Deus está presente, não apenas nas leituras, mas também em todas as outras partes da Missa.
Com as novas traduções haverá algumas alterações nas respostas que a assembleia deve fazer e nos cânticos que são usados. Vai levar algum tempo para o povo se habituar às mudanças, porque “mudar” nunca é uma coisa fácil. Contudo, estamos confiantes de que o período de preparação antes do Advento de 2011, permita aos Catolicos aprender muito mais acerca da Missa e da importância que ela tem na vida diária.
Uma vez que o Inglês é a língua mais falada no mundo, a Igreja achou por bem implementar as mudanças só na lingua Inglesa, como um primeiro passo a dar no processo. Todos os países do mundo onde se fala Inglês terão a mesma tradução. Eventualmente, as outras línguas terão também de implementar essas mudanças.
Nós estamos a atravessar agora um desses períodos de mudança e não a ler isso num livro de História da Igreja. É essa a diferença. Que essa diferença possa pois mudar as vidas dos nossos Católicos Cristãos, fazendo com que a Missa seja cada vez mais o centro da nossa Fé.