Archdiocesan newspaper series to help St. Paul-Minneapolis Catholics prepare for changes

The Catholic Spirit, the paper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has just launched a series on the Nov. 27 implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal. The first installment, posted April 27 and written by Father John Paul Erickson, director of the Office of Worship in the archdiocese, explains how the words of the Mass will change, but the foundation — lifting up our hearts to the Lord through the liturgy — will remain the same.

Father Erickson also writes about the need for good catechesis as Catholics prepare for the revisions:

This catechesis is important not only because we need to know what to say on Nov. 27 and why we say it, but also because every time these sorts of changes occur, it is a privileged time to re-examine the Mass and the liturgy as a whole and to take a serious look again at our own devotion to the Mass and to the sacraments.

Change is often difficult, but it can also be immensely fruitful. Indeed, change, even difficult change, is most often necessary for life and real growth.

Read the entire article. And let us know (or if) how your diocesan newspaper is helping Catholics prepare for the revisions.

Bishop: Revisions reclaim 'the sacred reality' of the liturgy

With the new translation of the Roman Missal, Catholics have a chance to recapture the sense of the transcendent in the liturgy, says Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley.

Catholic News Agency has published remarks from Bishop Conley, who also recently spoke to the Midwest Theological Forum about the revisions, including the following one:

“There is a banal, pedestrian quality to much of the language in our current liturgy. The weakness in the language gets in the way and prevents us from experiencing the sublime spiritual and doctrinal ideas woven into the fabric of the liturgy.”

As an example, he discussed the change from "Happy are those who are called to his Supper,” in the current Communion rite to “Blessed are those who are called to the Supper of the Lamb” in the new translation.

“The Mass is truly a partaking in the worship that St. John saw around the throne and the altar of God. This is not a beautiful idea, but a sacred reality.”

Read the entire article.

Indy auxiliary bishop debuts Missal podcast

Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, the recently ordained auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, has unveiled the first installment of a four-part podcast on the revisions of the Roman Missal.

In the first podcast, Bishop Coyne discusses the history of the new translation and the rationale for the changes with Father Patrick Beidelman, director of liturgy of the Indianapolis archdiocese.

Listen to the podcast, and read more about the series on the bishop's blog, Let Us Walk Together: Thoughts of a Catholic Bishop.

Monk rocker's DVD with new Mass settings available for download

Catholic singer-songwriter John Michael Talbot had a special gift for his fans on Easter. Beginning April 24, they could download music from his latest CD, "Worship and Bow Down," which features Mass settings from the new English translation of the Roman Missal to be implemented Nov. 27. Sung in a “contemporary chant” style, the prayers are simply yet beautifully arranged, relying on Talbot’s voice and backup singers.

Here's what Talbot said about the early release:

“We are excited to bring this special digital release of ‘Worship and Bow Down’ to my supporters on Facebook and the JohnMichaelTalbot.com website. This is our first release with the advent of new social communication, so we are jazzed to be able and offer it to our special friends and co-workers in Christ and the Church!”

The CD will be released June 21. Download information is here.

New Missal podcast looks 'Beyond the Words'

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton are using new media to help Catholics better understand the new translation of the Roman Missal. They have teamed up to produce a podcast, "Beyond the Words," to explain the changes, particularly to youths and young adults.

In a statement announcing the podcast, co-host Emily Strand, who is also director of liturgy at the university, explained the reasoning behind the podcast:

"Anytime there is a change to ritual, it gives people what I call 'ritual whiplash.' Ritual is a person's point of encounter with the holy, and when you change that, it can be very disconcerting. We want to help make this transition as smooth as possible."

So far, four episodes are available via iTunes.

Priest explains 'Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week' and 'for many' link

In a column this week for the B.C. Catholic, the Vancouver archdiocesan paper, Father Raymond D'Souza points out that many Catholics are curling up with Pope Benedict's new book, "Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week" as they mark Holy Week and prepare for Easter.

Within those pages, he says, is an explanation for a passage in the new English translation of the Roman Missal that has been controversial in some quarters — the translation of the Latin pro multis as "for many," instead of the current "for all," during consecration.

Aside from pointing out that translating the passage as "for all" is a "linguistic mistake," Father D'Souza writes:

[In "Jesus of Nazareth," Benedict] writes that the "many" spoken of in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is fulfilled in Christ, and takes on a new universal dimension in the Church, so Christ indeed did die for all.

The expanding applicability of Christ's death is captured in how we hear and understand "for many." For example, in 1 Tm 2:6 it is written that Christ "gave Himself as a ransom for all." The Church comes to understand early on that Christ died for all, but maintained in her Scriptures and in the Liturgy the expression "pro multis."

We don't read the words of the liturgy with the ears of the world -- perhaps thinking that "for many" is restrictive -- but with the ears of the Church's tradition, which understands the universal character of the sacrifice of Christ. So there ought not to be any theological nervousness about the new translation.

Read the entire column.

Awaiting the Kingdom with revised Roman Missal

Sister Anne Flanagan, aka the Nun Blogger, continues to make insightful comments about the new English translation of the Roman Missal. (We told you about another post of hers last week.) This time, she examines the ways in which the revisions point us toward Christ's Second Coming:

As I look over the new translation for the Mass, one of the characteristics that struck me with extraordinary power was the heightened eschatological sense. To put it in everyday language, a sense of expectation and anticipation of Christ's Second Coming. It is in the present translation, too, but in a less obtrusive way. Or (this may be closer to the truth) I just didn't notice it because it has been said the same way for so very long.

Some examples include the Eucharistic prayers, for example No. 3: "as we look forward to his second coming, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice..." And in the Nicene Creed, when Catholics will say: "I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come," instead of simply "we look for the resurrection of the dead..."

Read Sister's entire post.

Roman Missal news from the USCCB

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops today released its latest updates on the revised Roman Missal implementation, which begins Nov. 27 (see the newsletter, which gives you an opportunity to sign up for email updates).

Among the updates is a new video series being co-produced with St. Anthony Messenger that guides viewers through the changes coming with the new translation. Here's the video explaining the series:

'Many' thoughts on revised Roman Missal passage

Sister Anne Flanagan, aka the Nun Blogger, has a post today about the words of consecration in the new English translation of the Roman Missal, specifically a part of the institution narrative that has puzzled many people (in bold):

Take this, all of you, and drink from it:

for this is the chalice of my Blood,

the Blood of the new and eternal

covenant; which will be poured out for

you and for many for the forgiveness

of sins. Do this in memory of me.

To some ears, "for many" sounds exclusionary, especially since the translation currently in use says "for all." But here are some of Sister's thoughts after attending seminars on the Roman Missal revisions and reading the works of Pope Benedict XVI:

Many means many. It is the opposite of "few." It is not a restrictive term, though it sounds that way to us now, because we are so used to hearing "all."

Most discussions about this term ... note that at the Last Supper, Jesus himself most likely actually used the word "many," and did so knowing he was fulfilling the prophecy of the Servant of the Lord who would give his life as an offering "for many and win pardon for their offenses." But these are not the only places in the Gospel (or the New Testament) where that "many" shows up. When James and John wanted the best seats in the kingdom, Jesus told them that they would be following the Son of Man who "came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." And then there's Paul. Paul refers to Jesus and the "many," too: for Paul, Jesus is the new Adam who undoes what the first Adam did.

Read all of Sister Flanagan's post.

What secular media sources are saying about the Roman Missal revisions

News of the upcoming implementation of the revised Roman Missal is getting major play now that the nation's most prominent newspaper, The New York Times, has written an article about it. (As one colleague here at OSV asked, "Aren't they coming a little late to the party?")

The story, by religion reporter Laurie Goodstein, largely focuses on the criticisms of the new translation — after all, the headline is "For New Mass, Closer to Latin, Critics Voice a Plain Objection." And it includes priests from Ireland, Australia and the United States who, indeed, have objected to the revisions.

But it also quotes Father Richard Hilgartner of the USCCB's Secretariat of Divine Worship, who, while acknowledging it will take time for people to get used to the changes, pointed out that the revisions are "a catechetical opportunity." He told the Times:

"The new translation tries to be more faithful to the Scriptures, and a little more poetic and evocative in terms of imagery and metaphor.”

Read the entire article.

The New York Times is not the only secular media outlet reporting on the changes coming to the Mass. The National Post of Canada also has a piece about it. It, too, gives much play to the naysayers.

Saintly additions to revised Roman Missal

Most of us know by now that the prayers of both the celebrant and the people will be changing with the Nov. 27 implementation of the third edition of the Roman Missal. But did you know that the revised Missal will include 17 additions to the Proper of Saints? Those holy examples include St. Josephine Bakhita (at right), St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, better known as Edith Stein.

In a column for the Boston Pilot, Mary Elizabeth Sperry of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops explained how the saints were included in the Missal:

The saints new to the third edition of the Roman Missal include saints, like St. Augustine Zhao Rong, who were canonized after the second edition of the Roman Missal was published in 1985. Some of these saints, including St. Lawrence Ruiz and St. Andrew Dung-Lac, have been on the U.S. calendar for years. However, the new Missal will be the first time their prayer texts have been available in the printed book. Other added saints appeared on the liturgical calendar until 1969, when the calendar was simplified and many saints' observances were removed. Also restored to the calendar are observances for the Most Holy Name of Jesus and the Most Holy Name of Mary. Still others saints and observances added to the Missal highlight important teachings of the Church such as the teaching on Mary (Our Lady of Fatima) and on the Eucharist as the Sacrament of Christ's love (as promoted by St. Peter Julian Eymard).

See the full list of saints.

Canadian Catholics receive OK for revised Missal

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) announced last week it had received recognitio for all sections of the revised Roman Missal, clearing the way for Canadian Catholics to begin using the new translation on Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent, along with other English-speaking Catholics. In a statement on their website, Canada's bishops explained the conference is still clarifying the exact wording of one of the adaptations for Canada, but that will not slow down preparations for the Missal's introduction.

Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast told the B.C. Catholic, the archdiocesan paper of Vancouver, that not implementing the changes at the same time as the U.S. Church would have resulted in “liturgical chaos.” Archbishop Prendergast, a member of the Vox Clara Committeee, told the newspaper:

"Given all the work that went into this and all the consultation around the world with bishops and their advisors, I believe this is a consensus document and an extraordinary achievement, despite the naysayers. Our people will love it, though it will take some time to adjust to the new formulas. People will need to be patient with their priests as they adjust to a new style of liturgical prayer.”

Read the entire article.

Erie, Hartford plan events on Roman Missal revisions

With less than eight months before the implementation of the revised Roman Missal, dioceses throughout the country are preparing for the changes with workshops and speakers. In the news the past couple of days have been two such upcoming events — one in Erie, Pa., this week, and another in Hartford, Conn., in early June.

In Erie, Sister Joyce Ann Zimmerman, director of the Institute for Liturgical Ministry in Dayton, Ohio, will speak to clergy of the diocese and lay leaders, then give a talk that's open to the public, this Thursday about the revised Missal. In a preview article with the Erie Times-News, she explained the challenges associated with the more formal language of the revised Mass:

There are some great improvements in the translation, especially in the use of imagery. There are some tremendous difficulties. What we have to do is learn to minimize those difficulties.

Read the entire article.

In the Archdiocese of Hartford, priests, deacons and laity will hear from one of the priests who helped craft the revisions, Msgr. James P. Moroney, who is executive secretary of Vox Clara Committee (and who, by the way, was the subject of this blog's very first post). Msgr. Moroney tells the Catholic Transcript of Hartford that the workshops he has led have gone well so far, with few naysayers.

Personally, I’ve now spoken in 102 dioceses to over 20,000 priests and deacons, and I have never finished a day with priests in which there were more than one or two people at the most who … had anything but enthusiasm for the implementation.

Read the entire article.

Video: UK publisher unveils prototype of revised Missal

The Catholic Truth Society, which has been authorized to publish the new translation of the Roman Missal for England, Wales, Scotland and Australia, has a new video detailing features of the new volume:

Bishop to priests: New Roman Missal translation an opportunity, not a burden

In the latest issue of The Priest magazine, Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Ill., a member of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Divine Worship, which oversees the implementation of the new translation English of the Roman Missal, gives background on the revisions to the Missal and offers seven suggestions to priests on how to approach the changes. Here are his first two suggestions:

1. Please begin with prayer. Pray to the Holy Spirit for the gifts and the guidance we will need in making the transition to the new Missal. Pray for patience with ourselves and with others, for flexibility, humility, a spirit of openness, and a positive attitude in the face of change.

2. Carefully reread the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, which now becomes the introductory text to the Missal itself. We should be mindful that all Masses we celebrate are to be celebrated in accord with this Instruction. We should reread the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium). This will renew and deepen our understanding of what the Church wants us to be doing when we gather for Divine Worship. We should avail ourselves of the many resources online and take advantage of workshops or seminars that are being provided to assist us in the praying of the new texts.

Read the rest of the article.