And With Your Spirit

Eight weeks from now, the new Roman Missal will make its debut at Mass. In case you are hearing about this for the first time, here’s what’s happening: beginning in Advent, we will be using the newly translated words of our most important prayer, the Mass. Translating the liturgical texts from the original Latin has required many years’ work by several qualified groups, including the United States Conference of Bishops and the International Commission on English in the Liturgy. The result is that the new text follows the style of the original Latin texts more closely, and is more formal and dignified.

According to the bishops, the shepherds of the Catholic Church, using the revised translation requires preparation and catechesis for both priests and the faithful. To that end, all of Risen Savior’s clergy – priests and deacons – have been studying and practicing the new words. Several members of our parish have also attended workshops in order to educate themselves and pass the information on to the rest of our congregation.

Articles have been included in our monthly newsletter and in our weekly bulletin to help you learn more about the changes. One-hour workshops are also planned - all in a coordinated attempt to help you feel a little more comfortable about the changes, even though they may seem somewhat minor.

Perhaps one of the more noticeable changes to the English translation of the Mass is the people’s response to the greeting, “The Lord be with you.” Currently, the response is, “And also with you,” but the new translation will have everyone say, “And with your spirit.” We engage in this dialogue with the priest five times during the Mass: at the greeting, before the proclamation of the Gospel, at the preface to the Eucharistic Prayer, prior to the offering of peace, and during the Concluding Rites.

Many people are familiar with the original Latin dialogue: “Dominus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo.” The Vatican’s new rules for translation singled out this response to be rendered more closely, saying “Certain expressions that belong to the heritage of the whole or of a great part of the ancient Church, as well as others that have become part of the general human patrimony, are to be respected by a translation that is as literal as possible,.” While this change and others will be in the missals in the pews, we are going one step further by providing you with cheat sheets; on the first Sunday of Advent, you will find cards in the pews that have the new Mass responses and prayers. It may seem difficult at first, but keep in mind that we are all in this together, priests included!