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Catholic Mass revisions launch war of words
Washington Times ^ | April 3, 2010 | Julia Dulin

Posted on 04/03/2010 2:06:35 PM PDT by NYer

As America's 68 million Catholics celebrate Easter this weekend, they also will start preparing to absorb significant revisions to the Mass that include a greater focus on sin and changes in wording that hearken back to majestic, traditional language used at the time of the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s.

What some have called a "stem-to-stern" revision of the English-language missal - the ritual text for the celebration of the Mass - has been in the works for eight years. It has not come without controversy and dissent.

The new missal may not appear in parishes until the end of 2011; however, the first of 22 workshops across the country to train priests and diocesan leaders in its use begins this month in Cincinnati, Richmond, Va., and Phoenix.

Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which represents 85 percent of the world's English-speaking Catholics, have argued among themselves about the texts for years. After rejecting a large portion of the text at their spring 2008 meeting, they did not approve final sections until November.

The USCCB has allocated a good portion of its Web site, usccb.org, to explaining the changes.

Although some bishops have hailed the revisions as more reverential toward God, a Facebook page devoted to the controversy has 1,358 fans opposing the new missal. Even the former head of the USCCB's liturgy committee has come out against the revisions, saying the language was not accessible to the average Catholic.

"To what extent are the new prayers of the missal truly pastoral?" Erie, Pa., Bishop Donald W. Trautman wrote in a 2007 essay in America magazine. "Do these new texts communicate in the living language of the worshipping assembly?"

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture; Worship
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To: Hegewisch Dupa
I don’t understand how it would be better if it were Latin and no one understood

The great thing about the Latin is that no matter where you attended Mass, anywhere on the Planet, the Mass was the same. I am a convert, and I understand the Latin. I find it odd, that some Cradle Catholics don't.

I don't translate the Latin into English, I think in Latin when I'm in a Latin Mass...Just like when you are in France, and speaking French, you think in French..Hope that makes sense.

41 posted on 04/03/2010 10:03:34 PM PDT by sockmonkey
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To: BenKenobi

I’ve never been to a latin Mass, I reckon I just want a liturgy that doesn’t invove puppets during the sermon.

Which, among other absurd things, actually happened at my parish. It has improved since then.

Perhaps sometimes your deafness could be a blessing, I know I wish I couldn’t hear “Lord of the Dance” being belted out during Communion.

Freegards,God bless, HAPPY EASTER!!!


42 posted on 04/03/2010 10:09:35 PM PDT by Ransomed (Son of Ransomed Says Keep the Faith!)
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To: Ransomed

I actually don’t mind the Lord of the Dance.

But my parish mangled, “Old Rugged Cross” by speeding it up.

Happy Easter to all!


43 posted on 04/04/2010 12:41:35 AM PDT by BenKenobi ("we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be")
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To: sockmonkey

Very interesting that you are able to think in Latin and not translate from English in your head.

Your post made me realize that during the propers, I also no longer translate the Latin into English...I am understanding it straight from the Latin. The readings are a different story. I do need the missal for that, though I certainly would understand the gist of the readings even without the it.

It’s fascinating how your brain is able to learn and adapt like that. I wonder what would have happened if they hadn’t yanked the Latin away from me when I was just a kid...and I wonder what will happen with my own kids who are growing up with the TLM. I’ll have to ask them about it and see if they are translating or understanding right off the bat.

Happy Easter!


44 posted on 04/04/2010 12:52:30 AM PDT by VermiciousKnid (Sic narro nos totus!)
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To: paterfamilias

“Now, I can only hope that the handholding during the Paternoster fade away as it so richly deserves.....”

I understand that protestants were invited to help invent the new Mass.

Meself, I don’t participate in the hand-holding. I am particularly offended by the handshaking as a “sign of peace.”


45 posted on 04/04/2010 3:14:36 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: LibFreeOrDie

“I never understood why the Latin (Tridentine) Mass became pretty much criminalized after ‘62.”

What do you think of the theory that it was suppressed because it is so much more powerful than the new Mass, and Satan hates it?


46 posted on 04/04/2010 3:16:34 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: LibFreeOrDie

“If you want to go to a hippy-dippy Kumbaya guitar Mass instead, or to a Mass in a language other than Latin, well, that should be offered, too!”

Disagree, sorry.

If people go off and do that on their own, then it can’t be helped. But I don’t think the Church should sanction it.


47 posted on 04/04/2010 3:21:28 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: steve86

“My own sincere belief is that any change to Mass rubrics since the first half of last century was part of Satan’s grand plan to destroy the Church. And in some respects, it worked. Subsequent Popes, to one degree or another, have been semi-willing accomplices of the diabolical scheme, possibly due to naivete and popular delusion fostered by the modernists. The current Papacy demonstrates the first signs of encouragement for a return to correct liturgy and proper culture of the Mass.”

Bears repeating.

Thank God for the writings of such saints as Pope Pius X, Alphonsus Liguori, and Francis de Sales.


48 posted on 04/04/2010 3:35:35 AM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: left that other site

They also eliminated the Prayer of St Michael as well. I was born after the liturgical changes of the 60s and I did not discover that prayer until I was an adult.


49 posted on 04/04/2010 3:55:03 AM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: Straight Vermonter
There were a lot of things that were removed from the Liturgy to make it more “Accessible” to the Congregation.

As if the “Congregation” were a bunch of silly sheep who were incapable of understanding things of the Spirit. And yet, I was but a CHILD, and immediately noticed that my favorite things were now MISSING from the Liturgy, even though they had been in LATIN!

OK, so I was of above average intelligence, but STILL.

Blessings to you this Easter Sunday, FRiend.

50 posted on 04/04/2010 7:59:47 AM PDT by left that other site (Your Mi'KMaq Paddy Whacky Bass Playing Biker Buddy)
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To: AnAmericanMother

Ping to you, AAM...since you enjoyed these young girls singing 2 years ago, I thought you might like to see how they’re coming along.

Happy, Blessed Easter!


51 posted on 04/04/2010 9:38:48 AM PDT by VermiciousKnid (Sic narro nos totus!)
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To: kjo

“Isn’t that about the time they started letting homosexuals into the priesthood?”

No, it isn’t.

Most of the real monsters - Birmingham, Shanley, Gauthier - were formed in the Church of the 40s and 50s, and were ordained before 1960 - by bishops who were formed in the 1910s and before.


52 posted on 04/04/2010 9:52:08 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Let tyrants shake their iron rod, and slavery clank her galling chains)
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To: 353FMG

unity by lowest common denominator is not something to strive for


53 posted on 04/04/2010 3:48:36 PM PDT by Hegewisch Dupa
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