The new Roman missal: What clergy can expect |
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Written by FATHER CHARLES SINGLER
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Saturday, 07 August 2010 00:00 |
Now that the Holy See has approved the third edition of the Roman Missal for English-speaking countries, much will be undertaken during the next year to acquaint the Catholic faithful in the United States with the new Mass formularies. Critical to the success of that massive undertaking is the leadership in local parishes, the ones who stand before God and the people calling the church to its heart. Because of the liturgical role they undertake in virtue of their ordination, priests will make a significant contribution to the success of implementing the new missal in local parishes and institutions.
At their recent summer biennial convocation, the priests of the Diocese of Toledo heard some introductory remarks from a prepared multimedia presentation on the new missal highlighting some of the features that distinguish this publication from its predecessor.
 For priests, the new translation of the missal means learning some prayer texts never before spoken. Some words that have been used the past 40 years have been reconstructed in new grammatical cadences. Other words expressing the authentic meaning the church intends in Latin may seem, in some instances, odd for public usage. Yet, as language is formative, priests will be challenged to look at the theological and spiritual meaning of the prayers they offer differently. Such a challenge may be one of those blessings longed-for in the ongoing renewal of the church.
Music will also experience a significant change in the new missal. Completely re-written musical tones for the prayers of the priest-celebrant are included and will require some “in-service” training. Since the translation of some common prayers of the people will be slightly altered, music that accompanies these selections is also being re-written.
Paramount to the cosmetic changes in the Mass is a revitalization of our Catholic Eucharistic spirituality and the way — or the “art” — in which priests celebrate Mass. What we pray expresses what we believe in faith, just as how we pray expresses the significance of those truths we believe in faith.
What might the Catholic faithful do in support of their priests as the task of forming our parishes commences these next weeks and months? Support and encourage their efforts. Pray that they too will interiorize the spiritual benefits of the prayers they have the privilege of speaking aloud. Realize that the success of this entire undertaking has as its aim a stronger unity in the church, one which connects us more deeply with biblical faith from which the followers of Christ the Lord have emerged.
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Father Charles E. Singler, D. Min., is director of worship for the Diocese of Toledo.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 07 August 2010 00:00 |
