Dear Reader,

Below is an article I authored and submitted to the pastor of my assigned parish that is the first of many letters to the members of the parish This is merely a beginning step in bringing the people of God to a familiarity with the forthcoming changes so that when the first Sunday of Advent arrives utter confusion is avoided. In future articles my plan is to address the individual changes in the text of Holy Mass. If you have any suggestions that would help me communicate with the lay faithful in the pews please offer them in the comment section at the bottom of this page. Thank you!

-A Newly Ordained Priest

Very soon the English speaking Catholic Church will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of Mass using revised prayers. To help prepare for the changes we will be offering a series of articles in the parish bulletin explaining what we can expect as well as why. It is important that we all make the effort to ensure that when the changes take effect, on the first Sunday of Advent, we are ready.

There are many ways to learn more about the upcoming changes, this article and subsequent follow-up articles will be helpful in understanding the revisions. Also, the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) has a terrific website that offers a collection of articles, sample texts of the new Missal, videos, and many other resources. {www.usccb.org/romanmissal} Also, the parish ministerial team has already acquired cards to place in the pews when the changes are implemented in order to assist the faithful in participating fully at Mass.

But, before any of those resources can be of assistance the most basic question must first be addressed, namely; why are we making changes? There are many reasons for the revisions we are about to experience. One reason is that the translation we use to celebrate Mass could (and should) be much more faithful to the original Latin text. The official language of the Church has been, and continues to be, Latin. However, after the reforms of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, the various Conferences of Bishops were given permission to submit the Vatican a translation of that Mass into the local language of a territory. The English translation of Mass was first approved in 1973 and quickly was revised with a second edition approved in 1975. This is the Mass that most of us are familiar with and that is celebrated everyday at the Church of the Magdalen.

In the Jubilee year of 2000 the Holy Father (Pope John Paul II) announced that a third edition of the Mass translation was to be prepared for English speaking Catholics. This was done to fix the weaknesses present in the 1975 translation that had utilized a translating technique called “dynamic equivalence.” Basically, this means that rather than staying true to the actual words in the original Mass text, the translation tries to get across the idea of the prayer. This results in dramatic instances of loss, where Catholics who attend Mass in English speaking areas find themselves praying different prayers than the rest of the Church (French, Italian, Spanish, etc.).

The new translation that was approved, the Third Edition, is much more faithful to the original Latin text. It is a more authentic interpretation of the prayers that Holy Mother Church provides for us. Also, the new translation of Mass will have a noticeable difference in both wording and rhythm than are typically used in daily use of the English language. This will be yet another reminder that the mystery we celebrate is sacred and unlike anything else we do.

Some have expressed to me that they are dreading the coming changes. However, with a little preparation and prayerful trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance of the Church, these don’t have to be times of apprehension and anxiety. Instead, this can (and should) be an opportunity to learn more about our faith and to educate our brothers and sisters who may not understand. It is my hope and prayer that the preparations which our parish has made, including the forthcoming articles that will be published in the bulletin, will aid you to embrace the coming changes.

-A Newly Ordained Priest to His Parish