Nine years ago, Pope John Paul II updated the Missale Romanum (Roman Missal) that Pope Paul VI put together for the Second Vatican Council. The English translation is almost done, and the US Catholic Conference of Bishops has listed a few examples of the changes online. Here’s a few…

Penitential rite

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

My favourite bit from the Tridentine Mass has returned, in the future we will no longer say “I have sinned through my own fault” but use the English translation of mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa that was removed. It sounds better in Latin, but then again most things do.

Preface dialogue

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
People: It is right and just.

I imagine this to be the most difficult part to learn, “and also with you” is an automatic response.

Ecce Agnus Dei

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away
the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called
to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.

This bit is quite interesting, “behold” is closer to the Latin of the Tridentine Mass – I think it’s fair to say that it sounds much nicer than “this is”. The second part more clearly references Matthew 8:8…

When he went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him.⁵ 'Sir,' he said, 'my servant is lying at home paralysed and in great pain.'⁶ Jesus said to him, 'I will come myself and cure him.'⁷ The centurion replied, 'Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured."⁸

You can see the rest over at the USCCB’s website. There’s no word like this from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales but I’m guessing the words will be the same over here.

Labels: latin, mass