When the new liturgical year begins in November of 2011, Roman Catholic parishioners world-wide will be praying aloud to a new translation of The Roman Missal.
How that change will affect the individual members of the faith is yet to be experienced, but basically, when the first week of Advent rolls around, the mass will sound differently to the listening congregation.
The Mass Itself Is Not Changing
According to the Liturgical Reflections on the season, by Associate Publisher, Jerry Galipeau, "the prayers will certainly sound different to our ears. The changes may be challenging for many of us at first, but in time, we will become accustomed to a new English translation. Let's remember that the Mass itself is not changing; it is the translation of the original Latin prayers that has changed."
Local Parish Reactions
In the July 24, 2011 bulletin at the Holy Redeemer Parish in Warren, Pennsylvania., Msgr. John also made mention of the upcoming changes, as he wrote in the parish bulletin: "The biggest changes for the people in the pews will be in the singing of the Gloria, the Holy, Holy, Holy, the Memorial acclamations and the great Amen."
Later in that same church bulletin he added, "From the Ratio Translationis comes this explanation for the new translation: 'The new translation is closer to the Latin text and was translated into various languages for use around the world. The new edition contains prayers for the celebration of recently canonized saints, additional prefaces for the Eucharistic Prayers and some updated instructions for the celebration of the Mass. It also has a distinctive style in which prayers of the Roman Rite are expressed.'"
During a recent mass held at The Parish of Saint John the Evangelist, in Girard, Pennsylvania,
a beautiful musical choice of a Lenten song was sung, entitled, "Change Our Hearts." As sung in unison by local parishioners, the hymn's words were full of a faithful promise:
"Change our hearts this time, Your word says it can be.Change our minds, this time. Your life could make us free. We are the people, your call set apart, Lord, this time change our hearts."
While nothing official was written to indicate this particular hymn was relevant to the changes, the song seemed to indicate an overall feeling of the layperson by its lovely poetic lyrics
Sources
Cooney, Rory, Musical Text and Tune, b. 1952. North American Liturgy Resources, 1984.
- St. John the Evangelist, Bulletin 060, Gabriel Publications Div. of Archangel Publishing, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA. 2011.
- http://www.uscb.org/romanmissal/.
- Holy Redeemer Church, Warren, Pennsylvania, Parish Bulletin, July 24, 2011, www.4LPi.com.
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