As I understand it, the back story is that when the prayers of the Mass were translated into English after the Vatican II Council, the process was expedited and the resulting words were geared to get the gist of the prayers rather than a more precise translation of the original Latin.
Decades later, a new effort sought to implement the more precise translation of the Latin words. Probably the most distinct phrase that is used multiple times as a response by the assembly was the change from "And also with you" to "And with your spirit".
Looking over the new translation, I thought about the few times I went with my friend Matthew to his LCMS Church for their divine liturgies, and the words in their prayers closely resembled the changes that were implemented with the new Roman Missal translation.
Yet at the Chapel of the Resurrection at Valparaiso University, the prayers were similar to the old translation of the Roman Missal. So once we Roman Catholics switched, it was somewhat humorous to hear the response "And also with you" still used at the Chapel.
Both my home parish of Ascension and St. Teresa of Avila Roman Catholic Student Center, my parish away at college, like other parishes, worked to prepare parishioners for this change in the months prior to the First Weekend of Advent 2011, and provided resources.
St. Teresa's distributed a packet of papers to explain the changes, including Scriptures references to the prayers, which had on its front cover a sequence of words to indicate the same prayers, new words, and "Deeper Meaning".
While some criticized this effort as making the church appear too focused on worship instead of acts of charity to serve those in need, I recognize that proper worship is an important part of our faith life and helps spawn charity. These new prayers were an opportunity to rediscover the rich meaning of our prayers.
For one, I see deep meaning in the response "And with your spirit", which reflects how we acknowledge God's Spirit is upon the ministering priest at Mass.
The word "consubstantial" is used in the newer version of the Nicene Creed, which speaks to how the Son is of the same essence, or substance, as the Father. Cardinal Cupich wrote a column on the meaning of that word, and it was insightful as he spoke to its richness.
In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest, praying with the chalice, instead of the cup, says it is the Blood of Christ poured out for "the many", a change from "poured out for all". As I understand it, the idea is that the gift of salvation is not just limited to a few select people, but is for many more, and in some ways, still speaks to the sense of being for "all".
I also think about the response, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof..." That phrase echoes the words of the centurion to Jesus when pleading for his servant's healing.
Just under 2 years after the new translation was implemented, I was sitting with a group of youths who were about 1 month away from Confirmation. I had just been with them for several hours on a retreat. We concluded our day with Mass back at Ascension. When we got to that prayer response in the Mass, I thought about the impact of that day on me. I had just concluded my time as a student a few months before with my college graduation. In all those years, I was used to having someone over me to direct me, and having to seek their permission.
Now, on that day, it really dawned on me for the first time that I was in an overseer position, not only helping with that retreat, but also in my new role as a catechist.
Yet, even though I had a measure of authority, I was still under the authority of God--just as that centurion recognized he had charge of his soldiers, yet was still humble enough to recognize how mighty God was.
Indeed, throughout all my years of teaching RE, I have recognized how I had been given a measure of authority so that I may do what is in the best interest of my students, as I tend to their souls while leading them to encounter God.
And so we continue to gather at Mass to encounter our God, and embrace the ways we can enter more deeply into relationship with Him as we enter into deeper prayer with the words at Mass.
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