Changes to the Catholic Mass

[scarlett09]

Wasn't really sure where to put this, but I wanted to know what you all thought of this.

http://news.yahoo.com/mass-translati...190101485.html

So I'm a Christmas and Easter Catholic, I currently only go to Mass twice a year. It's for a variety of reasons, along with the fact that DH is not Catholic, although he is baptized. We both have a certain comfort level with the Catholic mass. DH remembers bits and pieces. I went to Catholic school and then CCD, so the Mass is imprinted on my brain, right down to what the priest says and does. Although I feel that the predictability of what happens at Mass makes it feel rote and uninspiring, I also feel that it brings me a certain level of comfort and a connection to my family and community.

With that being said, I'm just not sure how to feel about this. Obviously, I haven't been to Mass since the changes took effect and I won't be going until Christmas Eve. I can understand why the Vatican made the changes and I think the concept is great: everyone, regardless of language, will be participating in the same Mass. But the language changes are too close to the current verbage - "and with your spirit" instead "and also with you?" I feel as though I'm going to be frustrated and uncomfortable at Mass on Christmas Eve with those types of close changes. I do believe that one day, this will all be a distant memory, especially those who are younger than us. Just like the switch from having the Mass said in Latin to having it said in English was for my parents' generation.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

My husband is catholic...I told him about it tonight and he thought it sounded weird (though he understands the reasoning).

[SoonerTexan]

We went to 7:30 PM mass tonight...it was pretty funny at some points! At one point everyone said a random jumble of words and we were close enough to the priest to see that he was trying REALLY hard not to laugh. DH didn't like the changes, but I think everyone will get over them quickly. I have read a few articles where people are getting inordinately upset over it for no good reason. That seems strange to me.

As I understand it (and I really need to read more about it), the previous Roman Missal was somewhat hastily translated after Vatican II and was never meant to be a permanent version. The new version has been "in work" for years and is supposed to be a much more accurate translation. To be clear, it's mostly wording changing...no new beliefs. I'm all for that, even if it means the next few weeks might be a little awkward at mass.

At the very least, I'm glad it is making people pay closer attention to what they are saying...I certainly did!

[v-girl]

Our parish has read-along guides. We were encouraged to take one a few weeks ago so each family can study them. We didn't make it to mass this weekend, but I plan to have some family time to go over them this week.

Scarlett- I can send one to you if you would like. Ours are bilingual because half of our parish is Latino.

[moonlight]

We've been preped here in NC for over a year. I hope he puts out a read a long or something next week.

[oceanchild]

It was a very strange mass yesterday! Lots of giggling at our church, even though we've been doing book clubs to learn about the new words and have been singing some of the new mass parts since September.

I think a lot of the new words sound very weird. Probably my least favorite was, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof," instead of, "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you."

But I'm not sure yet whether it's weird because it isn't what I'm used to or because it's actually weird. And I'm willing to give myself a chance to get used to it. Does give me an appreciation for what it must have been like to convert from Latin to English!

[Pollyanna]

We had a ton of fun trying to get used to the new verbage. It was too funny to be actually HOLDING the cheat sheet and LOOKING at exactly what we were supposed to say but say the old version. It doesn't bother me because I do my best not to let my faith be affected by the wording of the mass, or a particular priest, or the look of a church. I try to remind myself that these are things of man, not God. I think it will be weird for a while but we will all get used to it.

My mom says she remembers walking out of mass when they changed from Latin hearing people proclaim that they are NEVER going to mass again, how dare we say the prayers in English.

[MarissaNicole]

I simply don't like change in general .... but I'm sure in a matter of months the words will roll off my tongue and I'll be comfortable again.

[samssugarmomma]

I don't like the new wording either - but I think I'll be fine once I'm comfortable. In the meantime, it feels odd to feel uncomfortable in church - one thing that I've always liked about mass is that it doesn't matter where you go - mass is mass. It's always the same order, same wording, same, same, same. We even found a Catholic church in Russia when we went for our adoption and even though everything was in Russian - we still knew what was happening because it's *one mass*. I hope that I get comfortable soon so it will be easier to focus on our reason for being there.

[Meenah]

I went to a Catholic Funeral Mass today, and the new wording tripped up quite a few people. I was raised Catholic, but I didn't notice the change because it has been so long since I have been to a mass.

[bobk]

I haven't been to a Roman Catholic Mass with the new translation yet, but I like what I've read of it (we go to a Byzantine parish with a different liturgy so the changes don't apply). My ideal RC liturgy would be the old-school "extraordinary" form, but spoken in English instead of Latin. This new translation at least brings back some of the richness from the original Latin.

BTW - if you happen to live near an Eastern Rite parish or an RC one with the Latin mass, I'd highly recommend attending to take part in a different form of Catholic worship.