DIOCESAN NEWS
01/20/12
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‘Change in translation causes
us to reflect on language’
By Mary Woodward
Now that liturgically as a church we have entered a period of Ordinary Time, this is a good time to reflect on our ongoing transition to the new translation of the Mass.
Our church has a precious liturgical tradition. Our Mass and how we worship has evolved continuously over the past 20 centuries and we, as worshipping Catholics, have adapted throughout these centuries to subtle and not so subtle changes in the liturgy.
I certainly hope people of the past have had as good a spirit, as good an attitude and as good a sense of humor as we have had during this current transition.
At the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in Jackson, our parishioners have not only had to adjust to the new translation responses, but we have also had to adapt to a new worship space while the Cathedral interior is being renovated.
We now celebrate Mass in the Cathedral Center. It is a very intimate environment where at times we feel like a can of sardines, but in this environment it has been very easy to watch and listen to parishioners, bishops and priests learn and at times struggle with the new responses and phrasing of the Mass.
For example, the peoples’ response “And with your spirit” has had quite a journey itself from “And also with you” to “And also your spirit” to finally “And with your spirit.” At times I have heard or even said myself “And with your spirit” when the response was supposed to be the simple “Amen” or “Thanks be to God.”
We are all trying so hard to get it right that we confuse ourselves sometimes. I have to laugh at myself when I slip up and I really enjoy the looks on people’s faces when they miss the response or revert to the previous one. It is like a collective – “Ooops!”
I remember at one Mass recently at the Cathedral Center, the dismissal “Go forth, the Mass is ended” was given and one person said loudly but not so confidently “And with your spirit.” She knew she was supposed to say something, but out came “And with your spirit.” We all giggled including her, but this situation sums up our desire to adapt while accepting our humanity.
Though we laity have struggled, many of our priests have had an even harder time. First of all the missal is arranged somewhat differently from the previous one. So flipping back and forth has caused a few “prayerful” delays. The phrasing is very different from the previous translation so coupled with the new layout our priests have basically had to learn how to celebrate Mass again with a new liturgical language.
For a time the Mass for me personally was somewhat flat because everyone was reading to get the words right and some of the mystery was lost, but now I think a rhythm is being developed as celebrants and congregants are getting accustomed to the meter and phrasing. Words such as “dewfall,” “consubstantial” and “co-heirs” are starting to sink in to our liturgical language. Our ears are better tuned to this elevated language.
Now the liturgy is becoming an even richer and deeper prayer experience even when I may misspeak a response out of habit. The change in translation has caused us to reflect on the importance of language and how each word contributes to the overall mystery that is the Mass.
Perhaps next year on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception we will be ready for “preveniet.”
(Mary Woodward is director of the diocesan Department of Evangelization which includes liturgy.)
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