About the Mass Vol 2 Series: Same Mass, New Words, Deeper Meaning and Greater Love of the Mass Part 1.

Welcome to my new series called ' About the Mass Series Volume 2-New Translation'

In my second section of this series, I would like write 5 posts on Same Mass, New Words, Deeper Meaning and Greater Love of the Mass as an overview of why the English speaking world have a new translation of the Mass.

In the English speaking world from First Sunday of Advent 2011, the words said at Mass changed. In some parts, there were significant changes, whilst in others, it may be a word or two. What is important for us to remember is the Mass is the same.  We may wish to reflect on what the Mass is and why we attend Mass.  As I stated in my Introduction of this series,

“‘At some time or other people people ask the question ‘Why should I go to Mass?’ The Eucharist is so fundamental to our faith journey. When we attend Mass, we are in the company of Heaven and we receive Jesus Himself, body, blood soul and divinity in Holy Communion. The Eucharist therefore is so fundamental for our soul because it is its food.  Just as we are nourished by food for our bodies when we eat, we also need to nourish our soul by receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, rather than starving it.”’ You may wish to read the remainder of my introduction to this series which you will find under the Sacraments label- About the Mass Vol 2- New Translation.

With any change, people either embrace it fully and willingly, hesitate to accept it until they are ready to accept it or reject change and resist it.. This depends on our personality and our environment (nature/nurture factors).  This is most relevant when The Church invites the English speaking world to change the words we have said for the last 40 or so years. Naturally, the words will sound different because most of the words are English translations of texts first composed in Latin.

We should not feel that the Mass has changed. No, it is still the same Mass. We are there to adore God and give HIm our worship. Yet, because the words sound different, until we get become accustomed to it, and then later appreciate the deeper meanings in the changed texts, we may feel uneasy or even hostile or perhaps sad that our favourite prayer of the Mass has changed. It is important to remember that this New Translation of the Mass has not affected the Scripture readings, the Prayers of the Faithful or our favourite hymns.

The texts of the Mass either said/sung and said by the priest were previously in a book called

‘’ The Sacramentary”.  This is now referred to as “ The Roman Missal”. The third edition of the Roman Missal  in Latin was published  in 2002, whereas the first complete translation dates back to 1973, although some parts of the Mass first appeared in English in late 60’s. It is important to realize and appreciate that the translation we knew for many decades has been revised to reflect the current Latin edition.

 We may think why did they not get it right in the first place?  Apart from the strong desire/impatience  at that time for Holy Mass to be said in the vernacular, it is also true to say that translators now have a better sense of how to achieve  a firmer grasp of the meaning of the original texts, the demands of oral proclamation and greater depth.

Some people may think the bishops had nothing else better to do with their time. Others might think like the previous generations who faced change that somehow the devil/evil spirits have their hand in this change to create confusion and ultimately less people attend Mass.  These are views I have heard expressed by others, but not my personal view.

In every change, there is a time of becoming accustomed to it, but as the English speaking world travels through this period of change, we must not lose sight of understanding it so as to appreciate and value our faith even more than we currently do.

For my readers of non-english speaking backgrounds, you may wonder what we english speaking brothers and sisters in Christ are talking about with regard the New translation of the Mass. You will not have to worry about the change, but you can pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ for the English speaking world, that through this process of change, our faith and love of the Mass will be deepened. The English speaking world will be able to rejoice that we are again an universal church, like a Pentecost experience, hearing the same words in our own language.

As we attend Holy Mass and become more accustomed to the revised texts, we may wonder more about these changes.  I hope that my series may provide you with fresh insights or nourish your own research. This is my strong desire for writing this series.
 

Let us remind ourselves of one very important factor as we move through this change- The Mass has not changed- it is the same Mass.

Stay tuned for next week's post: New words and their biblical roots.