Big changes to the Catholic Mass coming next year

[Ed Barrow]

A historic change in the way Roman Catholics participate in Mass will likely begin Nov. 27, 2011, according to a letter Bishop Edward Braxton sent June 6 to church leaders in the Belleville diocese. Braxton, a former member of the U.S. bishops' liturgy committee who worked on the new translation, said the official date for the introduction of the new Roman Missal had not yet been set, but "it is very possible, however, that the date will be the First Sunday of Advent 2011."

The Roman Missal is the ritual text of prayers and instructions for the Catholic celebration of Mass. Many of the changes are to parts of the Mass in which the laity respond to prayers said by the priest.

The changes will affect some of the most recognizable parts of the liturgy. That includes the familiar greeting and sign-of-peace response, "and also with you," which will become "and with your spirit." Changes to the Nicene and Apostles' creeds have also been made. Other church officials agreed that because Nov. 27, 2011, is the beginning of the liturgical year, it's a natural date to launch the new missal.

"We're still looking at the first Sunday of Advent next year, although nothing is official yet," said Monsignor William McCumber, director of the St. Louis Archdiocese office of worship.


http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/religion/story/33B9697A7812CA0B86257743000BC7BC?OpenDocument

[Richardo]

1. "...and with your spirit" is what it used to be in Latin.

"...et cum spiritu tuo."

Hm. My 1960s altar boy memorization might finally come in handy.

[madrchsod]

3. i thought they banned spiritualism...my mistake

[gateley]

5. Dominus vobiscum

:7

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. et cum spririu tuo. n/t

[gateley]

11. Don't get me started! (she says striking her breast three times) nt

[rug]

6. Domine non sum dignus . . .

[madrchsod]

2. oh my god they are rescinding their ban on spiritualism?

if that`s the case it took them of some 500 to 600 or so years to do so.

[Webster Green]

4. "launch the new missal"

Yikes! :nuke:

[laconicsax]

7. Prediction: New schism beginning on or before Nov 27, 2011

By beginning, I mean in the works.

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. I rather doubt it....

...it sounds like this is a concession to the traditionalists, who are the ones who tend to schism.

[laconicsax]

13. I'm not sure there's tendency either way.

The schism that led to the Church of England wasn't the result of concessions to traditionalists, nor was the Protestant reformation.

Unless I'm mistaken (and I very well may be), schisms tend to be the result of one of two events:

1) A group rejecting the traditional positions of the sect.
2) A group rejecting a change to tradition.

Schisms that lead to wholly new sects are the result of the first and schisms that lead to in-group division are the result of the second. I don't know which occurs more often, but I doubt that there's a substantial difference in frequency between the two.

[Hardrada]

8. In Nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti

Amen

[Goblinmonger]

12. This is a step backwards

and not forwards. Traditional, very conservative Catholics will see this as a win. Might as well just go back to the Latin.

[laconicsax]

14. Depends on your view of 'progress.'

Both sides are mired in pointless superstition. Unless changing "and also with you" to "and with your spirit" along with whatever they're changing in the two creeds alters the prevailing superstition, I don't think there's really a step in either direction.

Argument over what gauge thread is used for the seams in the Emperor's vest doesn't bring participants any closer to (or further from) the realization that the Emperor is naked.