Liturgy has been changing, developing, ever since the early Church began to move away from its Jewish origins, so renewal has been characteristic of liturgy for over 2,000 years.
In 1570, acting on the advice of the Council of Trent, Pope Pius V published a detailed Order of Mass in Latin, which was to be followed by virtually all Catholics. The Priest and his server: ‘were responsible for everything. According to the rite in the missal of Pope Pius V, the people did not respond to any greeting from the Priest or join him in any of the prayers, not even the Lord’s Prayer.‘
It was during the 19th century that historians realised that since the Middle Ages the people had become more remote from the liturgy, both physically and psychologically. They came to ‘hear‘ mass but also followed their own devotions.
In 1947, Pope Pius XII published the most important encyclical of his 18 years as Pope, Mediator Dei. It was hailed by scholars as the Magna Carta of the modern liturgical movement, devoted exclusively to the subject of the liturgy.
Pope Pius XII called all Catholics to ‘full, active participation in the sacred liturgy. He stated that all Catholics ought to be aware that to participate in the sacred liturgy is their chief duty and their supreme dignity. He emphasised the priesthood of the laity and explained in depth how the baptised offer the Mass through the hands of the ordained priest and in union with him.‘
The Second Vatican Council brought about further changes. The participation and active involvement of the people of God in the liturgical celebration was the ultimate goal of the reform, just as it was the goal of the Liturgical Movement. Pope Paul VI (1963-1978) was highly respected for his ‘wholehearted zeal for promoting the splendour and dignity of divine worship in accordance with the desires of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican.‘
The new edition of the Missal replaces the book we have used since 16 March 1975. Though the vernacular had been introduced into the Mass on the First Sunday of Lent 1965, the Eucharistic Prayer remained in Latin until 1 December 1968. The introduction of the vernacular was well received and has proved to be one of the great blessings of the reform and renewal of the Church’s liturgy. The vernacular has become, in the words of Pope Paul VI, ‘the praying voice of the Church‘, and the Missal we have used for 35 years has enabled this to happen.
Now we move towards a new edition of the Missal and a new translation.
New words… deeper meaning, same Mass
We will soon be hearing new words to familiar prayers at Mass. The revised English translation of the Mass texts are ready.
It is very important to note that the Mass isn’t changing, but this English translation will be closer to the original Latin texts and will give deeper meaning to the celebration.
The translation currently in force has served us well. It helped entire communities make the jump from praying the Mass in Latin to praying it in English. It showed how good a translation can enhance the prayer of individuals and of entire congregations. It gave us a better understanding of the faith we share. It laid a foundation for vernacular worship upon which the Church is now building.
By turning attention to the original Latin texts, the Church has raised some unintended fears. Many Catholics who lived through the era of the Second Vatican Council want reassurance that its reforms remain. The fact is English is here to stay, and there will always be a strong emphasis on congregational participation. We are not returning to the Latin Mass.
Over the coming months we will be looking at certain word changes within the Mass. The new vernacular of the Mass is striving to make the present translation a better one. This is why some of the changes will seem small, while others are considerably larger. For example, the Lamb of God is not changing at all, but the Gloria has been completely rewritten. The guiding principle is to achieve a translation that better evokes what the Latin says.
I do think that some of the prayers bring about a difference in attitude, they sound humbler, a bit more modest in the presence of an awesome God.
In next month’s edition of the Catholic Voice we will look at some more specifics, in the meantime please do look at the two websites for more information and talk to your Parish Priest who has more information and has been to three sessions within the Diocese on the changes that will happen in September 2011.
www.middlesbroughliturgy.org.uk
Very Rev Canon Gerard Robinson
Episcopal Vicar for Spirituality and Worship