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The Happy Priest On Continuing Our Preparation for the New Mass Translation
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Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
10/3/2011 (1 decade ago)
Published in Living Faith
Keywords: Revise Roman Missal, Holy Mass, Liturgy, Fr James Farfaglia, Mass Translation, worship, catholic worship, Ordo, Order of the Mass, Revised Roman Missal
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - As we prepare for the implementation of the new English translation of the Roman Missal which will take place on November 27, the First Sunday of Advent, let us continue our reflection on the Catholic Mass by examining its structure.
The Catholic Mass of the Latin rite is divided into two principle parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Nevertheless, as we proceed with our considerations, we must remember that these two principle parts of the Mass "are so closely connected with each other that they form but one single act of worship" (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium,#56).
Let us consider the first principle part of the Catholic Mass; i.e., the Liturgy of the Word.
In the Vatican II document on the Sacred Liturgy, we find the following text regarding the Bible: "Sacred scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the liturgy. For it is from scripture that lessons are read and explained in the homily, and psalms are sung; the prayers, collects, and liturgical songs are scriptural in their inspiration and their force, and it is from the scriptures that actions and signs derive their meaning".
"Thus to achieve the restoration, progress, and adaptation of the sacred liturgy, it is essential to promote that warm and living love for scripture to which the venerable tradition of both eastern and western rites gives testimony" (Vatican II, Sacrosanctum Concilium, #24).
One of the most noticeable reforms of the Missal of Pius V has taken place with the Liturgy of the Word. In my opinion, this was one of the best reforms, because it allows the Word of God to be proclaimed in the language of the people and it provides a greater variety of biblical texts for the enrichment of our spiritual life.
The Liturgy of the Word is comprised of three selections from the Bible. Outside of the Christmas and Easter Seasons, the First Reading is always taken from the Old Testament. During the entire liturgical year, the Second Reading is always taken from the New Testament. The Gospel passage is taken from any of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Liturgy of the Word follows a three year ABC cycle which provides a rich variety of readings from the Sacred Scriptures.
Between the First Reading and the Second Reading, one of the 150 Psalms is sung or said. The Responsorial Psalm provides a prayerful meditation between the two passages from the Bible. Between the Second Reading and the Gospel, the Alleluia verse is sung or said.
St. Jerome (340 - 420), who spent so much time with the Bible, once said that, "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." In order to be well prepared for Sunday Mass, I recommend that you not only read the Scripture readings over before you go to your parish for Sunday worship, but that you actually make the Sunday Bible readings the center of your weekday meditations. Take the Sunday readings each day of the week and contemplate the text. Through quiet prayer, the Holy Spirit will help you apply the meaning of the texts to your practical life, and by being well prepared each week for the Sunday liturgy, your weekly experience will be much deeper and more meaningful.
The Sunday homily follows the proclamation of the gospel passage. Parish priests and deacons have a solemn obligation to be well prepared for the Sunday liturgy. Priests and deacons who neglect this solemn duty are doing irreparable harm to the souls that have been entrusted to them.
Preaching the Word of God is a tremendous responsibility. Moreover, since the lay faithful are being bombarded by numerous and continual challenges for the practice of the Catholic Faith, it is essential that parish priests and deacons be committed to inspire, motivate and instruct their parishioners every week.
Preaching becomes a powerful tool of evangelization when it flows from the heart of the preacher. The Holy Spirit works well with this kind of sincere and convinced instrument of the Word.
After the homily, all stand for the declaration of the Profession of Faith. Personally, I find this moment of the Catholic Mass to be one of the most moving because of its' ancient origin. It is at this moment that I am making a link to the beginning years of the Catholic Church.
I can join together with my brothers and sisters who professed their faith while hiding in the catacombs. The thought of the first martyrs inspires me to be more and more faithful. Perhaps to alleviate their terror of their horrible persecutions they cried out: I BELIEVE!
You will notice that in the Profession of Faith there are some notable changes in the new English text.
Instead of affirming We believe, we will be professing I believe. The words I believe are a literal translation of the Latin text Credo. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the distinction between I and We with these words: "Faith is a personal act - the free response to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 166).
In the new translation One in Being with the Father is now rendered as consubstantial with the Father. The use of the word consubstantial expresses in a deeper way the Church's belief concerning the relationship of Jesus to his Father.
Again, referring to the Catechism of the Catholic Church we read: "Following the apostolic tradition, the Church confessed at the first ecumenical council at Nicaea (325) that the Son is "consubstantial" with the Father, that is, one only God with him. The second ecumenical council, held at Constantinople in 381, kept this expression in its formulation of the Nicene Creed and confessed "the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 242).
Another important change in the translation of the Profession of Faith brings our attention to the very core of our Christian Faith: Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est. Our actual translation renders this Latin text with these words: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man is rendered by the new translation with these words: and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man. The new translation may seem to be more formal, but the theology is much deeper.
The Prayer of the Faithful concludes the Liturgy of the Word. This part of the Mass also has an ancient origin. Saint Paul refers to the Prayer of the Faithful when he writes, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1Timothy 2: 1-5).
As we listen to the petitions during the Mass we must be attentive to what we are asking the Lord. It is at this moment that we should recall the words of Jesus when he said, "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7: 7-8).
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Father James Farfaglia is the pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Human Life International. Visit Father James on the web at http://www.fatherjames.org and purchase his new book Get Serious! A Survival Guide for Serious Catholics and his first book, Man to Man: A Real Priest Speaks to Real Men about Marriage, Sexuality and Family Life. Father has a hard hitting blog called Illegitimi non carborundum. You can contact Father James at fjficthus@gmail.com. Click here for the audio podcast of this homily which is posted every Sunday afternoon.
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