I picture the 90-year-old grandmother attending her weekly Mass at the Catholic Church. The same grandmother who can no longer read the news or the bible because her eyesight is failing but she knows the liturgy like the back of her hand because it has been repeated the same way for many, many years.
Picture the priest who gives the traditional greeting,
“The Lord be with you” and the grandmother prepares for her response,
“And also with you.”
Suddenly, she is confused, there is a hush and the congregation counters with,
“And with your spirit.”
The Catholic Church is adopting the new English translation of the “Roman Missal,” or the book that contains the text for the celebration of the Mass. Therefore, beginning in December the grandmothers and others will be responding differently.
I am not a Catholic but my husband was raised a Roman Catholic. We attend a non-denominational church now. I can see the problems this will cause for many Catholics who have repeated the same responses since the 1960s. Old habits die hard.
To me, what is said or not said between me and my Lord should never be repetitious. It shouldn’t matter which words I choose to use or not.
Still, every morning I do begin the same way and I suppose that if I had to change that it would leave me confused, too.
I say, “Thank you for this day, this husband and this home.” And His response is always the same, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.”
Even when it’s raining or snowing or dismal and gray. Let us be glad and rejoice for this is the only day we have at this very moment in time. Nothing is promised in tomorrow.
May your spirit enjoy this day the Lord has given unto us.
Sources:
http://www.thebatt.com/catholic-mass-changing-translations-1.2687755
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/340292/us-catholics-change-mass-response-prayers
http://standardspeaker.com/news/new-translations-new-responses-in-roman-catholic-mass-1.1222121#axzz1d71eXCjw