Profession of Faith Part 3 Some changes in the texts and their meaning.

ABOUT THE MASS SERIES PROFESSION OF FAITH PART 3: 

CHANGES IN THE TEXTS AND MEANING.

THE MASS: ABOUT THE MASS ICON.

 

From November 2011, we have been using the ‘’new translation of Mass texts’. For young Catholics, it will make no difference as they may not have even learned the previous translation.  For older Catholics, the ‘new translation’ may be a very easy transition.   At the time, I found my old prayer book that I had at first communion, only to discover that the text of the Profession of Faith in that prayer book was similar to what was called ‘’new translation’.  It goes to show that things come and go and somehow come around again and if you keep something long enough, it becomes useful again.

However, for the middle age Catholic, there was a period of transition in terms of the text. Now that we are in 2019, many parishioners recite the creed without any trip ups text wise. Some parishioners still pick up the pew sheets, which can be very useful not only for the words but to focus on the words rather than being distracted. 

This post then looks at some of these changes, why there were made and more importantly, what added valued to our faith they provide. How can we get the most out of reciting Profession of Faith? We will continue the remainder of the key changes to text in another post next week.

These first few word changes therefore provide us with much to ponder in our meditation and in the way we recite the Creed at Mass.

SOME TEXT CHANGES.AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR FAITH.

I believe: In the current translation the opening words are ‘’I believe’’ instead of the previous translation ‘’We believe’’. Although it is still the faith of the Catholic church, by saying ‘’ I believe’’, we are making our own personal act of faith. Added to this, the literal translation of the word ‘’Credo’’ means I believe so it makes perfect sense to translate it according to the word. The third reason is that many other countries around the world kept their equivalent of I believe. This now brings the English-speaking countries in union with not only other countries but our brothers and sisters in Christ in those countries. We therefore are not only putting our own personal acclamation of faith, but as Catholics we are stating our faith in union with them. In other words, the whole of the Catholic church is really saying ‘’I believe’’.

I have to say this as an aside- I have experienced this both times I went to World Youth Day. There were huge crowds- often we could not speak the vernacular of the person standing next to us but when we prayed at the Mass- there was a senses of family, of faith and definitely, when the Credo was sung in Latin, there was an ascent to the faith being professed. I will never forget it myself.

The second point is that when reciting the creed together at Sunday Mass, we as a community of believers should not gloss over or forget to say these words or think I will catch up in the next paragraph. We need to be ready when the priest invites us to stand so that we can truly give our own ascent to our faith as we say ‘’I believe’’.

“of all things visible and invisible’’ We believe that God not only created all that is visible but also all that is invisible to us. This means that this includes the angels and the saints. They were once visible but now invisible to us on earth.  God still created them and they are present with us (though invisible to us) at Mass. How awesome is that.

‘’Only Begotten’’ This phrase not only is a closer translation of the Latin but also appears in the Gloria.  This phrase is meant to reaffirm our faith that Jesus was part of the intentional divine plan- intentionally begotten, rather than just materialising as the Son of God. In case we missed it in our hearts as we recited/sung the Gloria, there is another opportunity to be thankful that Jesus is the Son of God.

‘’Born of the Father before all ages’’ Not only is it a matter of preciseness to the phrase but the first 2 verses of the Gospel of John provide scriptural reference for it. This is useful when others ask or ridicule us for our belief in God- we have a scripture reference to which we can refer them.

“Consubstantial’’ literally meaning having the same substance. This is important because it is fundamental to our faith as it expresses the dogma of the divinity of Jesus. It also puts to rest various heresies that have occurred over the centuries regarding the divinity of Jesus. It is the only time this word is used which, is significant because it describes accurately the nature of Jesus Christ- the divinity of Jesus. It is kept in reverence to describe Jesus and His divinity.

May these words and phrases give you further insight into why it was necessary to change the texts in the first place and more importantly, how it affects our faith each week.