Yes there is a real welcome danger that the new forthcoming translation for The Mass could put Faith and Religion back into Liturgy....lex orandi lex credendi. It might even, indirectly, put a nail in the coffin of The Capsule aka The tablet - roll on that funeral pyre!
Those were the thoughts that struck me after a whole day spent yesterday with eighty priests of Southwark "studying" or getting an insight into the new translation. The day was organised for the Kent part of the diocese and two more days for other parts of the diocese are due to take place. Indeed such has been the demand to attend that a fourth day will be organised.
The following express some of my personal and immediate re-actions:
I was particularly struck by the leaders emphasis that " The Lord be with you", "And with your spirit" is not a "good morning " greeting but a constitutive prayer that is prayed FIVE times during the Mass.
I also came away thankful that God was being acknowledged properly, and if I may use the words respectfully, God was being restored to "His proper place."
It also seemed to me that neo-pelagianism was being banished, again!
Several priests who went with a critical if not quite dismissive and negative attitude said they had been converted by the end of the day!
I hope that when the laity and priests find the new translation "embedded" in themselves, they may also discover that they are better informed and better instructed, living Catholics!
I also hope that the teachers in Catholic schools will devote at least one of their Inservice training days to an informed study of the translations and that congregations at Sunday Mass will be properly prepared well in advance to embrace the new translations.
What great news about this long-awaited new translation of the Mass.I have been hanging on to my battered missal waiting for this before buying a new one!
ReplyDeleteThank you too, Father, for giving us the beautiful reflections on the readings for each day in Lent; they will make every day of Lent more meaningful and special. Kilmac
A very encouraging post. I was very pleased to hear that some of the less enthusiastic attendees came away from the day having 'seen the light'.
ReplyDeleteI think your comment about informed preparation before the new translation is introduced is key - both in our schools and in our parishes. It would be awful if it was just suddenly thrust on us with no explanation beforehand - 'Good morning folks, by the way from today onwards we're going to use the new translation of the Missal - hope yo'all like it!'
No more "good morning"'s - thanks be to God - but please tell that to the priests in Cork! After spending a week there listening to the unrepentent bishops and joining a Dominican 'circle of the Eucharist' - I'll say no more:(
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