WELCOMING THE NEW TEXTS OF THE MASS

The Memorial Acclamations and Lamb of God

 

 

          The final two items we’ll examine are the acclamations we speak after the Consecration, and the words we use right before communion.  After the Consecration the priest will simply say: “The mystery of faith.”  Here are the texts of the responses:

 

          Current Text                                                            New Text

 

Christ has died, Christ is risen,

Christ will come again.                                           We proclaim your death, O Lord,

and profess your Resurrection

Dying you destroyed our death,                            until you come again.

rising you restored our life.                                   

Lord Jesus, come in glory.                                     

 

When we eat this bread and drink this cup, When we eat this bread and drink this cup

we proclaim your death Lord Jesus                        we proclaim your death, O Lord,

until you come in glory.                                           until you come again.

 

Lord, by your cross and resurrection                      Save us, Savior of the world,

You have set us free.                                     for by your cross and resurrection

You are the Savior of the world.                            You have set us free.

 

            There are only three acclamations in the Latin text; the earlier English translation created two acclamations out of the first Latin wording.  The new texts render the Latin more accurately; this is the main reason for the changes.  Because these are acclamations (addressed to someone) and not proclamations (made about someone), the first of the current acclamations we use has been dropped.

 

          Being faithful to the Latin text has value beyond just using accurate language.  When the vernacular translations of each country are all faithful to the same original Latin text, then our words of prayer across the globe are closer to being the same words.  We are indeed praying in unity.  We are all saying the same prayers—in our words.  This was once the case when the world-wide Catholic church prayed the same LATIN words.  But we did not (for the most part) understand those words.  Using the normative Latin text as the reference point for the many vernacular translations enables us to indeed “pray together.”  As our prayer expresses what we believe, our use of the same words of prayer expresses the one, common faith we profess together.

 

 

 

          The final change in the text occurs as we prepare for communion.  After we recite or sing the “Lamb of God” (and those words are not changed), the priest holds up the Host and says:

 

            Current Text                                                            New Text

 

Priest:  This is the Lamb of God                      Priest:  Behold the Lamb of God,

who takes away the sins of the world.              behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

Happy are those who are called                      Blessed are those called

to his supper.                                                                 to the supper of the Lamb.

 

People: Lord, I am not worthy                          People:  Lord, I am not worthy

to receive you,                                                    that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word                                         but only say the word

and I shall be healed.                              and my soul shall be healed.

 

            These changes are not primarily issues of translation, but of using language that reflects and calls us back to a number of passages in Scripture.  In St. John’s Gospel account ((John 1:29), John the Baptist points out Jesus with those words: “Behold the Lamb of God.”  The words “This is” are a statement; “Behold” is an invitation, an invitation that says, “Look!”

 

          The second line of the priest’s invitation also reflects Scripture—the words of chapter 19 in the book of Revelation, where we read: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”  This is one of the seven “blesseds” in the book of Revelation, all of which speak of the gift of the covenantal relationship God establishes with His people.

 

          The people’s response changes from “to receive you” to “that you should enter under my roof.”  The new text invites us to recall the meeting of Jesus with the Roman centurion whose servant is ill (Mt. 8:8 and Lk. 7:6).  When Jesus offers to come and cure the servant, the centurion’s statement, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; only say the word, and my servant will be healed” is a tremendous expression of faith.  Jesus acknowledges this: He says “I have not found so great a faith in Israel!”  We acknowledge our unworthiness; we trust (in faith) God’s goodness.

 

          Finally, we say that “my soul” shall be healed, not simply “I.”  Here the Latin text does say “anima mea”—my soul.  Our souls, our hearts, our spirits—this is indeed where we are most in need of God’s healing love.

 

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(This is the eighth in a series of ten articles prepared by Fr. Ritter and Joanne Denyer.  You may wish to save them all.)

All ten articles will be on our parish website: www.stjoesylvania.org